* As ALGON holds NEC meeting in Kogi
The Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello has appealed to the Federal Government and the Leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU to resolve their differences in order to call off the lingering strike for the sake of the future of the students.
He warned that history will not be kind to this administration if nothing is done to avert the truncation of academic aspirations of the youths of this country who are eager to return to the classrooms.
Governor Bello made the appeal on Thursday during the Association of Local Government of Nigerian ALGON NEC meeting holding in Lokoja.
The Governor who is represented by the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo ,said keeping the students away from the school for a long time comes with its attendant consequences on the nation.
He advised the federal Government and the Academic Staff union to consider the future of the children by calling off the strike.
He charged the Federal Government to borrow a leaf from the state , which has been having its academic activities without obstruction , stressing that it takes purposive leadership for all the segments of the state to tap into the governance philosophy of his administration.
Bello disclosed that , his administration is reputed to be the first to grant autonomy to the local Government Council which he said is the first contact point of the people with their governments.
He added that , in his support for the affirmative action, he has ensured that women occupied the office of the vice Chairman, council leaders and at least two councillors in all the 21 Local Government Councils in the state.
While urging the federal government and some states to redouble their fight against insurgency and banditry , said his proactiveness in security architecture has made the state to be the most secured in the country.
He noted that , with the relative peace and security, kogi has continue to unleash both human and infrastructural developments which has made kogi the investment destination.
While commending the ALGON leadership for considering kogi for the hosting of their NEC, urge them to visit historical and projects sites that spanned across the length and breadth of the state.
In his speech, the National president of ALGON Barrister Kolade Alabi David echoed the appeal of the Governor for the FG and ASUU to make concessions for the reopening of the ivory towers
He commended Gov. Bello for the hosting and urge members to utilise the opportunity by visiting project sites as a means for peer review mechanism.
In a remark, the state Chairman of ALGON Alhaji Taufiq Isa assured that the state will continue to play active role in the furtherance of the ideals and objectives of the Association.
While appreciating Gov. Bello for providing enabling political and economic environment for the running of Local Government Councils, said , his developmental and proactive security architecture has continued to guarrantee safety of lives and properties.
He implore his colleagues to endeavour to tour the projects sites across the state for the purpose of hindsight as most of these projects are legacies that are incomparable to other states.