The Academic Staff Union of Universities has expressed the commitment to continually pursue ways of enhancing good governance that will cater to the interests of the Nigerian people.
The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this at the 2024 Edition of the Union’s State of the Nation Conference held in Abuja, with the theme: “Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development”
Osodeke said the objectives of the Union extend beyond the pursuit of the conditions of service and welfare of its members to include the “protection and advancement of the socio-economic and cultural interest of the nation.
According to him, the conference was organized to address the present challenges of the country as part of the ASUU’s patriotic contribution towards recovering the country back to the Nigerian people.
He said as the nation celebrates its 64th independence anniversary, there was the need for reflection as things were better when ASUU started its series of conferences in 1984, despite the then challenges.
“The present governance system that substantially serves the interest of few, primitive accumulators and foreign organisations needs to be reviewed.
‘Nigeria is too rich for the people to be experiencing poverty. The common patrimony must be used for the common good.
“It was in pursuit of these objectives that ASUU has over the years been organizing periodic National Conferences to generate ideas on how to provide a governance system that would cater to the interests of the Nigerian people,’ he said.
He said the expectation is that with the quality of speakers and participants, the conference would generate outcomes that will help solve challenges in the country.
General Ishola Williams (retired ) while delivering the Keynote address, said that the challenge facing Nigeria was caused by a lack of good leadership, which has given the opportunity for the society to be exploited.
He urged ASUU and indeed Nigeria to be innovative to reduce too much dependency on AIDS, which equally gives room for exploitation.
Speaker of House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas commended the ASUU playing in shaping the nation’s educational landscape, especially the promotion of academic excellence and social equality.
“Through relentless campaigns for improved funding for universities, better working conditions for academic staff, and enhanced welfare for students, ASUU has not only championed the cause of educators but has also laid down a foundation for sustainable national development,” he said.
Dominica Nwabufo
Comments are closed.