ASUU blames federal government for poor funding of education

The Academic Staff Union of Universities
has blamed the decay in the sector on the
political class.

The Convener, ASUU Committee on Human
Rights, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, in Ibadan on
Saturday said it would prevail on the
leadership in ensuring that education was
given desired attention.

He said, "The Federal Government
conspired with the political class to under-
develop education at the detriment of
national growth and development.

The
leadership abdicates their responsibility by
under-funding education."
ASUU is currently on strike over the non-
implementation of its 2009 agreement
with the FG.

Olorunyomi said the union called for
progressive increase in budgetary
allocation to education, federal assistance
to state universities, funding for
revitalisation of Nigerian universities and
earned allowances, among others.

"The union has vowed to forge ahead with
the strike until the agreements have been
fully implemented. The enslavement must
stop. The underfunding of research has
made conduct of cutting edge researches a
pipeline dream in Nigeria," he said.
On the issue of 'No work no pay',
Olorunyomi said members of the
committee resolved not to be caged by the
threat. He said, "Full implementation of the
agreement is the basis for which the
lecturers would return to classrooms.

"After about 300 years of slave trade, the
Federal Government attempts to make this
era of second or third slavery. The
students have said we should not be back
without achieving results.

"There is no bursary to students, no
equipment in the laboratories, no light, no
functional Internet facilities, nothing to
attract foreign scholars into our
universities as a result of poor condition of
work. We can no longer be fooled. The
body language of the FG shows insincerity.

"The leadership of ASUU, which met with
representatives of the government, was
shocked that government feigned
ignorance of the strike. The political elite
are hypocrites. We shall prevail on the
leadership in ensuring that education is
given desired attention".

Share on Google Plus

About mine4u