Gbajabiamila Apologizes To Nigerians Over Harvard School Photos Amid ASUU Strike

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says he regretted his post earlier on social media which showed him attending lectures at Harvard University in the United States of America.

Naija News understands that the lawmaker came under fire earlier after he took to the microblogging platform, Twitter and shared photos of himself attending a leadership course at the US prestigious higher institution.

Gbajabiamila was called unprintable names as his post was perceived as an insult to Nigerian students who have been at home for months following strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The lawmaker was also criticised by some activists and stakeholders.

The Speaker, however, has returned to the bird app to apologise to Nigerians, describing his post as insensitive.

Gbajabiamila admitted his action was wrong but noted that as a Speaker of the House of Reps, he had used his position severally to intervene in the lingering ASUU strike.

He claimed that he had engaged relevant agencies and stakeholders over the shutting down of the public universities and that necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the varsity staff called off the strike to allow students resume to their classes.

Gbajabiamila’s apology note read: “Yesterday, I posted a picture of myself at the @Harvard @Kennedy_School, undergoing a course. That post was not sensitive to the present feelings of fellow citizens, especially parents and students who are presently bearing the brunt of the ongoing closure of public universities owing to the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“I apologise for the post at this time, and I hope you will understand that it was not my intention to cause disaffection. As Speaker of @HouseNGR, I have made multiple interventions within the powers of the legislature to avert the ongoing strike. I had direct engagements with ASUU, and relevant government agencies.”

The lawmaker reiterated that the lower chamber of the National Assembly is still keenly involved in seeking a resolution to the issues so that varsity students can return to school, Naija News reports.

According to him, the Reps all await the outcome of the two-week ultimatum given for the conclusion of negotiations with ASUU.

Gbajabiamila added: “I have long been a champion of public education in Nigeria, and I have consistently advocated programs, policies and investments to improve the quality of public education in the country. In my constituency and beyond, I have attracted a new international students hostel in UNILAG, facilitated access to free internet WiFi in all public tertiary institutions in Lagos State; provision of modern ICT centres in 24 secondary schools across the state, provision of scholarships and grants to indigent students in selected tertiary institutions, provision of laptops to all secondary school teachers in my constituency and hundreds of students, facilitated the renovation of over 15 public schools in Lagos.

“Facilitated the ongoing construction of the Open University Campus and JAMB CBT Centre in my constituency, facilitated the ongoing construction of School Auditoriums in both LASU and School of Legal Studies, Katsina; facilitated the construction of a public library in Ondo.

“Facilitated the ongoing construction of an emergency care centre for the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital amongst other numerous interventions. In keeping with my passion for education, I regularly take time to teach in some public secondary schools across the country.

“Will continue to work within the remit of the legislature to provide our young people with access to quality education.”