The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has apologised to Nigerians after posting a picture of himself attending a leadership course at Harvard University in the United States of America amid ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions.
Gbajabiamila’, in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Wednesday night, insisted that it was not his intention to cause disaffection.
The politician came under fire for celebrating his “return to class” while the universities have been under lock and key for months.
Gbajabiamila said, “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 apologize 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.
“We all await the outcome of the two-week ultimatum given for the conclusion of negotiations with ASUU.”
