CHIEF Whip of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Ibida has appealed to the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to shift grounds in the dispute that has seen universities closed for over six months.

Ibida, who was speaking with journalists in Awka, said the stalemate in the matter required concessions from both sides to be broken. 

He noted that the “length of time the industrial action has lasted, the nature of the demands and Government’s challenges in meeting them called for new approach in efforts to resolve the situation.”

Ibida, who is also the APGA Candidate for Njikoka, Dunukofia, Anaocha federal constituency in the 2023 general election, stressed that  the full consequences of continued shutdown of educational institutions in the country was better imagined than experienced.

“Do we begin to compute the time lost; the missed opportunities for lecturers, students and successful JAMB candidates? What about the economic hardship arising from withheld remuneration? And the social, psychological aspects? There’s no way of adequately capturing the trauma of it all.”

Ibida explained that  the problems in the educational sector just as in some other areas of national life developed over the decades and would take time and overhauling to correct.

The two – time State legislator said that in view of the long – term nature of the contentions, a full package solution might not be attainable now.

“As a concerned citizen, I ask the two sides to show good faith by cutting a  middle road to move forward.”

He however, urged the federal government to demonstrate greater commitment by declaring an emergency in the educational sector and following up with needed action.

A.I