The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to do his utmost to resolve the lingering petrol scarcity in the country as well as address the one-month warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The clergyman gave the charge yesterday during the dedication of the Holy Cross Parish, Gwarinpa in Abuja.
“Our nation would achieve greater progress when we truly listen to one another in mutual respect. Government leaders must listen to their citizens, politicians must listen to the people they represent.
“This is the path to enduring peace, greater solidarity and harmony in our society and the best way to resolve problems such as the lingering fuel scarcity in the nation and the ASUU one-month warning strike to press home her demands from the government.”
He denounce the hypocrisy of some leaders in the country, stating that many who occupy sensitive positions of responsibility lack the disposition to make such offices function properly.
He charged such leaders turn over a new leaf and have the wisdom to lead others, since, according to him a blind man cannot lead a blind man.
“Leaders with the responsibility of governance must remove the log in their eyes so that they can better help others to remove theirs. This means that leaders must look first at themselves and correct their faults before they can see clearly to identify and correct the errors in other people.
“What we find in our society today is sadly the reality of ‘blind guides’. There are some leaders who occupy big positions of responsibility today but lack the disposition to make such offices function properly.
“Some fight and even kill to occupy such offices, but are only guided by their quest for material possessions and could be regarded as “blind guides”. Leaders are challenged to expunge hypocrisy and deception, to bear good fruits,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday threatened to embark on strike because of the federal government’s failure to implement the memorandum of action it signed with the union.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the national president of SSANU, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim said the union had been reluctant to resume its suspended strike because of its effect on students, university education and the parents, regretting that the Federal Government is forcing the union to down tools.
He also said SSANU was ready to present to the federal government the universities peculiar personnel payroll system (U3PS), which is expected to replace the integrated payroll and personnel information system.
Ibrahim said the U3PS was designed by professionals and that it captures all the peculiarities, including payment for sabbatical and visiting lecturers among others.
The SSANU president identified another contentious issue as the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the federal government that is long overdue.
“It was agreed that the 2009 Agreement should be reviewed every three years but 12 years after, not even 50 per cent was implemented.
“Parts of the areas we have agreed for review are the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, hazard allowances, call/shift duty allowances for nurses, doctors, engineers etc and overtime allowances. They should invite us immediately for the renegotiation.
“Another of our major concern is the payment of the minimum wage arrears. They told us that they have budgeted for it and that we should submit the necessary requirements which we complied with but yet, nothing has been done.
“We (leadership of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) are going to meet in a few days to take our position.
“We have been reluctant to shut down universities because of its effect on the education system, students and parents but it appears that our peaceful disposition to resolve issues amicably is being taken for granted by the government.
“Remember it is just resumption, we only suspended the strike to allow government implement the memorandum of action and we can resume anytime,” he said.
