The Academic Staff Union of Universities has asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for the paralysis that will be experienced in Nigerian universities in few days to come.

ASUU Benin Zone gave the charge on Monday at a news conference held at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Speaking on behalf of various ASUU Chairmen of the universities under the Benin zone, the Zonal Coordinator, Monday Igbafen, lamented that scholars are the most marginalised in Nigeria.

Igbafen said, “We want to tell Nigerians not to hold ASSU responsible, but hold the Federal government responsible for the paralysis that will be done to Nigerian universities in few days to come.

“On behalf of the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, I wish to welcome you to this conference.

“The Benin zone of ASUU comprises University of Benin, Benin City, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Delta State University, Abraka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, University of Delta, Agbor, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

“We are compelled to call you again at this defining moment in the history of university education in Nigeria, as it has become crystal clear that the Federal Government and its agents are inexplicably determined to cripple academic activities in the nation’s universities once more.

“Since the suspension of our last strike action in October 2022, the Federal Government is yet to make good its promise to actualise the review of our dismal conditions of service. It is yet to sign the draft renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, which our Union views as a significant milestone in the resolution of the issues at hand.”

He added, “The satisfactory and conclusive renegotiation of the Agreement and its successful implementation is the only desirable solution to the worsening living and working conditions of staff, the pandemic problem of underfunding and other challenges of university governance in Nigeria.

“At the moment, the Federal Government is still unwilling to pay up years of arrears of promotion entitlements, still pays lip service to the duty of adequately funding education and continues to be reluctant to release our withheld three and a half months’ salaries and third-party deductions.

“It is unimaginable that, in the face of the daily exponential increases in the cost of basic services and goods in Nigeria, university lecturers have been abandoned to grapple with the harsh realities of an abysmally poor salary structure they have had to endure for 16 agonising years. Nigerians should be aware that this is a critical moment in the history of university education in the country, as it is currently on the precipice.

“It is on this basis that we call on all well-meaning Nigerians students, parents, civil society organisations, the press, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), statesmen, captains of industry and other stakeholders to prevail on the Federal and various State Governments in our country to honour their agreements with ASUU and prevent the nation’s educational sector from sliding further into an undesirable level of decay and dysfunction.”

ASUU noted that members were not delighted in going on strike but have completely exhausted their options, blaming top government officials for the poor educational system, as their children are outside the country for studying. (The PUNCH)

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