ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on Nigerians to participate fully in the national strike declared by the organized labour in the country to protest the electricity tariff and pump price.
He made the call on Saturday at the commissioning of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Bauchi chapter, Secretariat.
The ASUP Secretariat was named after the late Bauchi south Senator, Mallam Ali Wakili, who served in the 8th Senate.
Sani, a former Senator in the 8th National Assembly from Kaduna State, said it is a challenge to the leadership which has forgotten how it came into power.
According to him, the call became necessary because it is in the interest of Nigerians and generations yet unborn.
Sani who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District said: “In the next few days, the Nigerian Labour Congress will be launching a national protest and strike, on their (NLC’s) behalf, I call on each and every one of you to respect the strike, because it is for all Nigerians and for the future of the country.
“It is a strong challenge to the leadership that has forgotten how it came into office.”
Speaking on Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary, Sani said that tackling the numerous challenges facing the country requires the collective responsibility of everyone.
“In the next few days, Nigeria will be 60 years as an independent nation, and it is a time for us to appreciate and carefully analyze the successes, failures and the challenges we face as a nation and as a people.
“If you look back to history to the manifestos of politicians in the pre-independent Nigeria, their campaigns have been always been on infrastructure, light, water and education. I believe in 2023, the campaign of the next politicians will be on the same issues.
“I think we should accept the fact that Nigeria is not where is supposed to be, where our aspirations and needs as a people have not been made by our leaders,” he said.
He noted that, the late lawmaker has worked assiduously towards ensuring good governance, justice and advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“I thank the leadership of ASUP in this Polytechnic for recognizing the contributions of late Ali Wakili, the person who worked assiduously for the development of our country and one who has suffered a lot in the hands of people who presided over the affairs of Bauchi state in the past.
“It is an honor and privilege for me to be here to witness the first attempt made by a group of academics to honor a Distinguished Senator in the person of late Ali Wakili. I am here as his colleague in the 8th National Assembly.”
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who performed the commissioning of the Secretariat, appreciated the academic union for finding the late Senator worthy of the honor and described it as a gift of legacy.
The governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Ladan Salihu, said improving the standard of education is one of the cardinal principles of his administration.
The ASUP National President, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, said naming the Secretariat after late Ali Wakili followed his contributions towards the development of vocational and technical education as well as sponsoring bills for the Federal Polytechnics Act.
He called on the government to invest l more investment in technical and vocational education in order to tackle the challenges facing the country especially the rate of unemployment among the youth.