In a statement yesterday, the Minister said the university
lecturers should also consider the efforts which the federal government has
committed towards the revitalisation of the university system as well as the
openness it has shown in the upliftment of their welfare as contained in the
2020 MOA and return to the classroom.
“Consider your students and their parents; consider the
perils these students pass through on daily basis, away from school as well as
the lost opportunities. Restoring glory to our university system is collective
and the present government has shown enough commitment towards it.
“As a parent whose children are in public universities; I
share the pains of ordinary Nigerians. I therefore appeal to ASUU to call off
the strike while the rest of the issues in contention are tackled,” he said.
While felicitating with Christians on the occasion of the
remembrance of the death and resurrection of Christ, Ngige urged Christians to
see Easter as another great opportunity to re-awaken the dying fervor of
personal and collective sacrifice, calling on Nigerians not to despair in the
face of threatening national challenges.
Ngige said just like Christ suffered death for the
redemption of mankind, no sacrifice was too much towards nation-building.
“By death on the cross and resurrection, Christ has left an
undying lesson that obedient, absolute faith in God, perseverance and sacrifice
make the ultimate path to victory. What else does the world want? What else does Nigeria need than these
virtues at this crushing moment of national history,” Ngige asked.
He therefore charged the nation to, “unite in collective
sacrifice against the common enemies of insecurity, corruption, lukewarm
patriotism and every other vice, eating out and ebbing away the progress of the
Nigeria.”
The minister also congratulated Christians for, “being steadfast
with Christ, all through the 40-day lent, culminating in the crucifixion and
death on Good Friday, and the eternal
damnation of the powers of sin and death through resurrection on the Easter
Day.”