INDEPENDENT NG
Raji Adebayo
The University of Ibadan Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday stated that the hardship being faced by public university workers is getting unbearable.
The chairman of the chapter, Professor Ayoola Akinwole, stated this in a release to mark the 64th independence anniversary of Nigeria entitled Nigeria at 64: a State in Need Of Deliverance From The Leadership Of Perpetual Have-Nots”
He stated that the Union has been very understanding by issuing ultimatum to government while federal government has been lackadaisical to it adding that another 14-day ultimatum is about to end within which government should meet the demands of the union to preserve the relative peace on public university campuses in the country.
According to Professor Akinwole, “many (Lecturers) ran away to other countries; many died as a result of financial debility; those who cannot run away got into debt just to survive while many resigned to take another job in private sector.”
The ASUU boss stated that “in the sixty-four years of the Nigeria’s independent existence, education and the state of the nation are both in downward spiral, owing to the dwindling fortunes in the quality of politicians steering the ship of the country’s government Political leaders and holders of executive positions be it at local government, States and Federal levels, whose answers to any request from workers especially in the education sector (and the Nigerian citizens) has always been “government have not the resources to meet the demands of the unions”.
While noting that Nigeria’s problems are due to the major neglect of its educational sector, Professor Akinwole maintained that without the necessary tools, improved welfare package for the lecturers and a conducive work environment, the university system will not be able to deliver on her mandates.
The ASUU chairman admonished president Tinubu “to desist from singing the unpleasant and baseless “have-nots” song but brace up to resolve the outstanding issues pertaining to university education as raised by ASUU, inject funds into the education sector for revitalization, improve the remuneration of academics, and address the economic crisis in the country.”
He warned that if the trend of hardships facing nigerians is not halted it will culminate into multidimensional insecurity adding that it is “more worrisome that amidst these economic woes of the people, the government is channelling its expenditure to areas like purchasing new Presidential jet and presidential Cadillac Escalade.
