Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Wednesday said the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, was capable of grounding and frustrating all economic activities of the Federal Government.
According to him, the Federal Government had expended so much in tackling security challenges in the country, noting that the situation had affected what could have gone to the education sector.
The Minister stated this while responding to questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
Maku disclosed that the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country had affected the resources of the country.
While appealing to the striking lectures to return to class, Maku said that there were many competing demands on the government from other sectors.
Maku said, “If we say every particular problem we face in this country, we will not work until it is resolved, then I am sure there is no sector that will work.
“If we all insist that every sector’s problem must be completely solved, we will down-tool; we will not work, and the country will stop working.
“We are partners with ASUU. We are friends. They are our patriots and we understand the critical role that the universities teachers are playing to create a new society that we are hoping to have.
“At the same time, this is a real question that we need to look at and we have to put the nation first.
“I know that all of us desire more from the system but the truth is that there are limitations and from the limitations we have, we believe that ASUU really needs to do a rethink and ensure that we re-open our universities.
“We are really feeling the pains that our children at home are passing through and this indeed is obviously avoidable.”
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