FG Killing Public Universities to Favour Private ones Owned by the Political Class — ASUU

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has accused the Federal Government of deliberately stifling and killing public universities in Nigeria, to promote private ones allegedly owned by the political class.
It also alleged that the Federal Government is calculatingly dribbling the union since 2017 in genuinely finding solution to its demands in order to end the strike for students to go back to school.

It further accused government of being only interested in the campaign for the 2023 general elections, than the welfare and future of the Nigeria youths.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Chairperson and Secretary of ASUU, Chukwiuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Anambra State, Comrade Okey Aniebo and Comrade David Enibe, respectively, after their meeting in Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has been adopting lies, blackmail deceit and delay tactics to continue to renege on the 2009 ASUU FGN Agreement, the Federal Government is calculatingly dribbling ASUU since 2017 in finding solution to ASUU and FGN face off”, the union asid.

“They have been deliberately stifling and killing the public universities in order to promote private universities, mostly owned by the political class, just as it is only  being interested in campaign for the 2023 general election than the welfare and future of the Nigeria youths.

“Even the Prof. Ali Munzuali and Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee, set up by the Federal Government to renegotiate the 2009 FGN ASUU Agreement, was not taken serious by the Federal Government and was frustrated by the same government that set it up.

“Initially ASUU had believed that the government took the step in good faith so as to resolve the contentious issues towards having an end to the strike, but unfortunately the government abandoned the separate Reports of the committee, thereby confirming the fear of ASUU that it is not interested in seeing an end to the strike.
“We therefore, regret to inform the general public that the Federal Government of Nigeria is not serious about ending the ongoing strike but has chosen to adopted lies, blackmail, deceit and delay tactics so as to continue reneging on 2009 ASUU FGN Agreement.”

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FAQs on the topic “FG Killing Public Universities to Favour Private Ones Owned by the Political Class — ASUU”:

Who made the claim that public universities are being “killed”?

The claim was made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of neglecting public universities to promote private universities owned by politicians and the elite.

2. What reasons did ASUU give for this claim?

ASUU argued that public universities are underfunded, staff salaries and allowances are delayed, and infrastructure is deteriorating. Meanwhile, private universities receive support and incentives, creating an unfair system that undermines public education.

How has the Federal Government responded to ASUU’s allegation?

The Federal Government of Nigeria has not publicly acknowledged favoritism but claims it is working on improving funding and implementing agreements with public universities. ASUU, however, insists the government’s actions are insufficient.

What is the impact of this alleged neglect on students?

According to ASUU:

• Frequent strikes disrupt academic calendars

• Students’ education and graduation timelines are delayed

• Public universities lose competitiveness and quality of education declines

What solutions has ASUU proposed?

ASUU recommends:

• Full funding and revitalization of public universities

• Timely payment of earned allowances and salaries

• Implementation of agreements and autonomy for universities

• Equal treatment of public universities in educational policies