ASUU Strike: Obaseki Laments, Says It Has Worsened Drug Abuse Among Youths

By Akinwale Kasali

An end to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff of Union of Universities, ASUU, is still a long walk ahead as the Federal Government and  ASUU Executives are yet to reach a compromise.

This situation has  become worrisome, not only  to parents and guardians  but to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who is embittered at the increase in the abuse of drugs by youths in the State.

Lamenting, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor claimed that the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike is worsening the  rate of drug abuse in the state.

According to the him,  Edo recorded 19 drug abuse cases in February, 34 cases in March and 23 cases in April.

He made this disclosure while reviewing the state’s security situation for the months of February, March and April

Obaseki said: “Drug abuse is now the number two issue of concern in our State,”

Our analysis shows that there has been a high rate of consumption of drugs in the last few months.

“This isn’t unconnected with the ASUU strike which has kept many students at home and idle.’’

The review came during a joint security meeting between the State Government and representatives of various security agencies in Edo.

“I use the opportunity of this meeting to appeal to ASUU and the Federal Government to do all they can to end this strike as soon as possible,”

“This is in the interest of the children so that we don’t keep them at home and destroy their lives.

“If they aren’t going to school, as you know the idle mind is a devil’s workshop. One way we hope that we can reduce the use of drugs is if we take these children back to school.’’

It would be recalled that the ASUU Executive after a meeting extended the ongoing strike by three months as the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is yet to find a lasting solution to the demands of ASUU thus crippling the educational institutions of the country.