ASUU: Cleric warns against tragedy worse than B’Haram

General Overseer, Hour of Mercy Ministries, Prophet Moses Kasali, has urged the Federal Government to address the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in order to avert tragedy that is worse than the Boko Haram insurgence.

Kasali, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday, noted that the four-month strike by the university lecturers would have a negative impact on the Nigerian youths.

The cleric said, “The Federal Government should be alive to its responsibility by averting the crisis besetting university education. Prolonged strike can provoke worse tragedy than Boko Haram in our country.

“A nation without focus in the area of education will be backward. The youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow, will be faced with problems.

“On the ongoing ASUU strike, I weep for Nigeria. We are in a country where the children of the affluent and those in government attend private universities and we claim to have a government. It is profitable not to make a promise than failing to fulfil promises.”

 He bemoaned the state of schools in the country.

He said, “If those at the helm of affairs say there is no money, where then should the money come from? Our universities are like dungeons with sparse facilities. If we can’t vouch for the quality of education in our universities what future does the country have? The wheel of progress of the country is grounding to a halt.

“We are really hurting our youths by mortgaging their future. They are like wounded lions that may turn round and fight back. We are pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to live up to his bidding by heeding the demands of ASUU; not necessarily because of the university teachers but because of the future of the country.”