Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Tuesday, received the report of a committee set up to investigate May 12 unrest that claimed the life of a female student, Deborah Samuel at the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE).
Presenting the report, the chairman of the 12-man investigation committee of SSCOE crisis, Engineer Abdullah Bakale said the committee has done thorough investigation of the matter which resulted to a comprehensive report on the matter.
In his response, the governor assured that the government would implement the recommendations of the committee, which he believed would “prevent future reoccurrence not only in the affected college but in all tertiary institutions in the state.”
According to the statement, Tambuwal “heard from several stakeholders and leaders in the state on the need for the college to reopen the college and his administration will look into the possibility of doing so.
“He directed the Governing Council of the SSCOE to convene a meeting with a view to reopening the college soonest.”
Also, the governor appealed to the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to find a common ground towards ending the prolonged strike embarked upon by the union.
“No issues are beyong resolution. We must, in the interest of our children and our country, find a common ground,” he advised.
He observed that there is give and take in negotiations, stating that ASUU and the federal government should shift positions and accommodate each other so that students could return to school.
The governor appealed to the local chapter of the ASUU of Sokoto state University who are in solidarity with the national body to reconsider their position as the state is making efforts to meet all the demands of the union as reasonably as possible, just as the state government has been paying the varsity staff salary regularly.
“You should not be in solidarity with the national body of ASUU since you are not affected by their demands. By expressing solidarity with them you are harming your own students and that solidarity is a very negative one. Please call it off and go back to work,” Tambuwal added.
