The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called on lecturers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to prioritise dialogue over industrial actions when addressing disputes with the government.
He made this appeal during the 2nd International Hybrid Conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Bida Chapter.
Represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Umaru Babannachi, Gafakan Nupe, the traditional ruler, emphasised that strikes have historically disrupted academic calendars and negatively impacted the education sector.
He encouraged academic staff to engage in constructive discussions with governing bodies to resolve issues amicably.
He commended the conference organisers for addressing timely themes relevant to technological advancement and urged participants to focus on collaborative efforts to promote the institution’s excellent reputation.
The Etsu Nupe’s remarks come after a recent one-week strike, underscoring the need for alternative dispute resolution methods to prevent further disruptions in the academic sector.