ASUU Tasks FG On Security Challenges

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday urged the Federal Government to address security challenges in the country, as they now posed a threat to national unity.

The union’s President, Dr Nasir Fagge, told our correspondent in a telephone interview in Lagos that every citizen had the right to stay anywhere in the country, in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that it remained the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure security in the country, adding that although there had always been crisis in the nation, it should not be allowed to get to the level where it could disrupt peace and unity among the citizenry.

Reacting to the posting of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to some “volatile” states, Fagge said that it should only be done if the security of the corps members was guaranteed.

He reiterated that the scheme was designed to enhance national unity and warned that it would not do the country any good if the programme was allowed to be destroyed by some security challenges.

“We have always experienced crises in the country. What we are seeing today is actually not new, but it is assuming a ridiculous dimension. The most important thing now is for government to ensure that the issue of security is properly addressed.

“It is the responsibility of government to ensure that all citizens are guaranteed the right to life, security and property, anywhere in the country, in accordance with the constitution.

“We should not allow any issue to pose a threat to the NYSC scheme,” he added.