FG Not Interested in Education – ASUU President

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the Federal Government has failed to prioritise the development of university education in the country.

The assertion was made by the ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He blasted the FG for focusing its attention on fuel subsidy, which he said does not exist, rather than showing interest in transforming universities.

Osodeke stated that since the union began its two-month-old strike, the government has been insensitive to its demands.

“A government that cannot raise N200 billion to revamp all Nigerian universities and bring them to world standard doesn’t have money to do that, but that same government can raise N4 trillion for fuel subsidy; fuel subsidy and university education, which is more important to any country that wants to move forward?” he queried during the breakfast show.

“You can raise N4 trillion for fuel subsidy in a year, but you cannot raise N200 billion to fund your education because you don’t have money; it is a priority. You can spend N228 billion to feed children in primary and secondary schools, but you cannot raise N200 billion to fund your universities; it is an issue of priority; that is the problem.”

He added that since the industrial action began, nothing has been done, and the government has not shown any sign that it is willing to resolve the issues.

The ASUU president listed some of the issues in contention to include renegotiations of the 2009 agreement, payment system for members, and revitalisation of the nation’s universities, among others.

He stressed that despite the series of meetings with the government delegation led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, no concrete resolution had been reached.

“Really, nothing significant has happened since we declared the strike about nine weeks ago, which means that this system (government) is really not interested in anything about education,” Osodeke stated.

“If all universities are shut down for about nine weeks, and there is no single comment from the government’s side, it shows that something is wrong, ” Osodeke added.