Posted by The Academic Staff Union of Universities' (ASUU) seven-month strike, according to renowned attorney Chief Thompson Joseph Okpoko, SAN, is a step too far.
He advised ASUU to approach them with the green leaves and engage in talks with the Federal Government.
The claim was made by Chief Okpoko in a conversation with a Daily Post reporter at his office in Warri, Delta State.
If they negotiate and come to an agreement, he says, “let them put it in writing with the federal government in a memo. If the government does not comply with what they want, then they should consult their lawyer to see what they can do using the law against the government because government is bound to obey the law.”
The Nigerian university system will collapse, according to Chief Okpoko, who also noted that ASUU is responsible for creating the next generation.
“Students won't attend class if ASUU insists on going on an indefinite strike. Next, there are dropouts. The female will get pregnant early and give birth. As a result, you are piling poor on top of poverty, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the insecurity we are discussing.
“There have been instances of students who are currently on strike acting as armed robbers, kidnappers, and so forth. Of course, you have seen the protests in Lagos that have blocked the streets. What does the grievance of ASUU members have to do with the road user? They are shifting their animosity away from the government and against the common guy, but who is this man? Their fathers, particularly those who work to pay for their school expenses. As a result, they went too far.
Okpoko said that in order to resolve the conflict with ASUU, Nigerian students could demonstrate against the administration.
He pointed out that students can ask their professors to consider them in light of the effects the strike would have on them by promising to pressure their parents to pressure the legislators to take action.
However, he emphasized that in order to fix the situation, ASUU should possess the maturity of former professors and teachers.
Additionally, he charged that the Federal Government had underfunded the Ministry of Education.
In order for Nigeria to advance, Chief Okpoko came to the conclusion that its citizens needed to learn how to behave properly.