Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was in the interest of the nation.
Gen. Babangida spoke yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, when he hosted the Governing Council of the National Examinations Council (NECO), led by its Chairman, Dr. Paddy Njoku.
The former military leader urged the university lecturers not to dtop negotiating with the Federal Government.
The university lecturers have been on an indefinite strike for four weeks, demanding the implementation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and last year's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He said: "It is unfortunate they (lecturers) are on strike. But the fact is that they have the nation's interest at heart. I want to advise them not to give up negotiating with the government."
The former leader expressed concern over the closure of the universities but hoped that the industrial action would soon be over in the interest of all.
Gen. Babangida hailed the Federal Government for making efforts to resolve the crisis, saying he believed it would end soon for the benefit of all.
Dr. Njoku said the examination body was being repositioned to meet the aspirations of the Nigerian Child.
He said the council was reaching out to all stakeholders, including pupils, to enable the council achieve its mandate.
NECO's Registrar Prof Promise Okpala urged Nigerians to support the examination body as the first of t its kind in the country, to enable it deliver on its mandate.
He noted that the "failure of NECO is a national failure".
The former military leader praised the leadership of the examination body, saying: "I am highly impressed by the activities of the board and management of NECO."
Gen. Babangida was honoured with the fellowship award of the International Institute of Leadership and Governance.
