The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benin Zone, has accused the Federal Government of neglecting its responsibilities to university lecturers and warned that Nigerian universities may soon be thrown into another round of paralysis.
The Zonal Coordinator, Monday Igbafen, who spoke on behalf of various ASUU Chairmen under the zone, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State capital.
Igbafen lamented that scholars are the most marginalised in Nigeria, insisting that the government should be held accountable for any breakdown of academic activities.
He said, “We want to tell Nigerians not to hold ASUU responsible, but hold the Federal Government responsible for the paralysis that will be done to Nigerian universities in few days to come.”
According to him, the Benin Zone of ASUU comprises the University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Delta State University, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, University of Delta, Dennis Osadebay University, and Southern Delta University.
He noted that since the suspension of their last strike in October 2022, the Federal Government has failed to fulfil its promises, particularly the review of lecturers’ conditions of service and the signing of the draft renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
Igbafen said, “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.”
He added that government’s refusal to pay arrears of promotion entitlements, withholdings of three and a half months’ salaries, and reluctance to fund education adequately have left lecturers impoverished despite the rising cost of living.
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He said, “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.”
Calling on Nigerians to intervene, ASUU urged students, parents, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), statesmen, and other stakeholders to prevail on the government to honour its agreements and prevent further decay in the educational sector.
The union maintained that its members are not pleased with strike actions but have been left with no other option, accusing top government officials of contributing to the crisis while sending their children to schools abroad.
