The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other Western machineries of deliberate efforts to destroy the public university system in Nigeria.
Its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this at the 2024 ASUU Heroes’ Day celebration, in Abuja, yesterday.
He said the day was set aside a few years ago to honour members who made great sacrifices for the Nigeria educational system in general and the Nigerian public university system in particular.
He said: “Sadly, this year’s celebration of our heroes is also taking place as we continue with the struggle to rescue Nigeria’s public universities from the suffocating clutches of the World Bank and the IMF, whose determination to destroy and bury our public university system has not abated.
“It is rather lamentable that we are still in the struggle to compel the renegotiation of our 2009 agreement with the Federal Government since it should have been concluded and four circles of renegotiation thereafter.
“It is most disheartening that despite the several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and Memoranda of Action (MoAs), the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement is yet to be renegotiated and sighted.
“The situation has been further complicated with the enforcement and persistence of IPPIS on the public universities even with the directives of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to exit the tertiary education institutions thereof.
“Not to be forgotten is our three and half months’ salaries that are still unjustly withheld. The arrears of wages award, promotions arrears, and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) are also still outstanding.
“At the state universities, our members are still being punished for fighting for the interest of members and the university system. Let me re-emphasise that we stand with our members in Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in their persecution for their principled support and solidarity in the struggle for the defence of the soul of public university education in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, 14 members who were found to have contributed significantly in the Union’s struggle for a better university system and working environment for its members, were honoured.
Immediate-past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed and former Secretary General, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Peter Ozo-Eson, were among those honoured.
Others were Prof. Uzodimma Nwala, Prof. Oye Oyediran, Prof. Imeh Ikiddeh, Prof. Sola Olukunle, Tunde Oduleye, Akin Oyebode, Mustapha A. Danesi, Prof. Bright Ekuerhare, Mallam Bashir Kurfi, Mr. S.A. Fadipe, Nasir Hussain, and A.T. Gana.
Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, in his remarks, appreciated ASUU leadership for the industrial peace being experienced in the university system.
He assured them of the commitment of the Fund to any course that will strengthen the tertiary education system for visible socioeconomic growth and development.