Strike in universities will never happen under my watch – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed that strikes by university lecturers would be a thing of the past under his administration.

Tinubu said that all necessary actions would be taken to ensure that universities do not embark on strike actions again.

Recall that the President had announced the cancellation of the controversial deduction of 40 per cent of Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) from government-owned universities.

He said his government would exhaust all avenues for dialogue before any strike actions.

The President, represented by a former President of West Africa College of Surgeon (WACS) and a visiting Professor of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. King-David Terna Yawe, spoke at the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

Tinubu said his government was committed to tackling all education sector challenges.

“I would like to enjoin all the unions in our universities to cooperate with the government to deliver the needed development by ensuring an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity on our campuses.

“On our part, we will ensure that motivational activities are put in place to ensure improved productivity. Reciprocative actions would be expected from our universities as the government works hard to raise the bar of a conducive teaching and learning environment.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Dialogue, patience, and positive engagements are better means of achieving results than strike actions. Industrial disharmony does nothing but disrupt life, waste time, and elongate the academic calendar.

“Therefore, all avenues for dialogue must be explored and exhausted before strike actions are considered, and as the last resort,” he said.