The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has expressed its dismay as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) plans to embark on another strike since the Federal Government failed to fulfill its part of the agreement.
While speaking during the board meeting of the association in Abuja, the APBN President, Surveyor Akinloye O. Oyegbola, said its concern is that the FG is yet to react to the allegation of breaching its ‘no victimization clause’ agreement by ASUU and to assure Nigerians of its readiness to avert another strick.
“The board believes another strike at this time would throw the nation’s educational sector into disarray especially when the sector is yet to recover from the protracted one of last year,” he advised.
The President who also stressed on the need to frontally tackle the global public health crisis, COVID-19 pandemic advised critical stakeholders in the country it’s not yet Uhuru as far as the virus is concerned.
Surveyor Oyegbola further urged Nigerians not to let down their guards yet, adding that, despite the seeming disappearing of COVID-19 in this part of the globe, the pandemic still constitutes major threat to lives, businesses and economies; therefore, it is important to continue to adhere strictly to those protocols as advised by the health authorities.
The board used the opportunity to express its dismay over the negatively effect of the nation’s economy, “With two recessions in the last five years, an inflation rate of 18.12 percent as at April, a high unemployment rate of about 33.3 and the negative effect of the global pandemic, it’s apparent that the country’s economy is not having the best of times.
“Not long ago, the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), through its president, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, warned that, despite the boosting of having the largest economy in Africa, it is on the verge of setting another record of being the country with the highest unemployment. rate, since it remains the highest among the continent’s top ten countries,” he noted.
The board, however, advised that the earlier the government heeds to such warnings the better for the country and her citizens.