The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has accused the Federal Government of making entrepreneurs out of insecurity by pumping more funds into the sector to the detriment of the education sector.
It wondered if such a venture would be sustainable in the nearest future, stressing that government need to concentrate on factors causing insecurity.
ASUU which spoke through the Chairman University of Ibadan chapter Professor Ayo Akinwole noted that a reasonable way to preserve the country would have been for the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to fund education by committing to a decent agreement with the Union to bring the over two months old strike to an end.
According to ASUU, the President and his appointees appear to be feigning ignorance of the ongoing strike, not minding that it is the children of the poor that are bearing the brunt.
He lamented saying, “the union is afraid if there will be a country in the nearest future since “it seems more money is being pumped into security for war entrepreneurs to become millionaires and billionaires without addressing the causes of insurgency and terrorism.
“ASUU started the ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, to force the government to implement outstanding 2009 agreements on revitalization funding, earned academic allowances, the proliferation of universities and sign a re-negotiated agreement with the Union.
While Government has stopped payment of salaries to striking lecturers, Akinwole said weaponizing hunger will not make the Union suspend the strike but is more energized to fight to have a country and a future for the children of the poor from the traders of collective patrimony in government.
“If those in government are smart, they should have seen evidence that pumping trillions of naira into fighting insecurity without getting results, is a result of not doing the right thing. If you fund education, the minds of the educated youths will be built to resist being used for criminality but since the government has been irresponsive, funding war may have become another opportunity where some people are making millions.
They don’t care about the increasing number of out of school children and they are not concerned about what facilities Nigerian children are exposed to. For ASUU, a smarter way of controlling growing insecurity and redirecting the minds of Nigerian youths to constructive and developmental activities is to build their human capacity and minds through purposeful funding of education by federal, State and local governments in Nigeria.”
Recall that besides the ASUU almost three months of industrial action, other sister unions within the University system have also downed tools, to press home demands ranging from Earned Allowances, revitalization funding as well as irregularities associated with the implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System IPPIS.