Orji Uzor Kalu, the senator for Abia North, has begged with the Federal Government to think about paying the striking teachers some months’ worth of salary to prevent them and their families from going hungry in response to a barrage of appeals from students and other education stakeholders.
Asked by reporters about the welfare of the Academic Staff Union of Universities strikers on Wednesday night,Orji Kalu pleaded with both the federal government and ASUU to change their positions on the ongoing strike.
“Many students from my constituency have been phoning me about the issue,” said Orji Kalu, “and I feel it is godly for all Nigerians, including religious leaders, community leaders, and all of us to put all our efforts into getting ASUU back to work and saving their families; some are starving to death.”
He bemoaned the fact that the academics have been suffering for almost five months without compensation and pleaded earnestly with the federal government to “consider paying them some of their salary while negotiation is still going.”
The Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, emphasized that it is stated in both the Bible and the Koran that “wherever you sow, that is where you reap.
“Neither farms nor other enterprises exist there. They have no means of support.
As a result, he urged all parties involved, particularly the federal government, to take quick action to preserve the lives of the academics and their families.