A lecturer at the University of Abuja, Professor Femi Odekunle, has said that the ongoing ASUU strike is not about salary or benefits, but about ensuring an effective university system.
Prof. Odekunle, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, said that the claim by the Federal Government that some of the agreements reached between the union and government were not implementable was no true.
He said that the purpose of ASUU’s fighting is for government to provide adequate infrastructure, funding and conducive environment for learning, saying that the claim by some individuals that certain aspects of the agreement are not implementable is fraudulent and far from truth.
According to him, “If the Federal Government can put funds into the National Assembly in terms of salary and allowances, why can’t it do the same for education that produces the manpower for the development of the nation.’’
Prof. Odekunle accused the Federal Government of employing tactics that were creating division between ASUU and management of universities by its sudden increase of Vice Chancellors’ salaries and allowances.
The lecturer, who explained that some lecturers were also guilty in contributing to the sector’s decay, said that the majority of the lecturers were serious and committed to their duties and responsibilities.
He called on government to address issues, including the misuse of resources, corruption of the political and government class, high cost of governance and other issues that had continued to have adverse effects on the country’s development.
Prof, Odekunle urges government to address the ASUU strike from its root cause, saying that they should stop playing politics and games with the future of the children.
