A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali says the Nigerian Government has to tap into the professional acumen of the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to end the issue of incessant strikes.
The Professor of Avian and Aquatic Animal Medicine gave the advice while featuring as a guest on a radio programme ,‘Metro Discourse’ in Ilorin, Kwara State North central Nigeria.
Professor Ambali said; “If the government is handicapped in terms of getting resources to implement whatever agreement they have with the body, let them Challenge ASUU to make suggestions on how to solve the problem of lack of adequate resources.
“Everyone will agree that ASUU is made up of numerous professionals, we have Professors of Accountancy, Law, political Science and of Professors of Economics etc, when these professionals put heads together, they’ll surely bring a means for the government to sustain or meet their demands.
“For example, looking at TETFUND, it was the brainchild of ASUU during former President Babangida’s era, they went to him to make some requests, he told them that the resources were not available.
“They went back and had series of brainstorming, they mapped out the strategy that wouldn’t even cost the government a kobo and by the time they finished, they took the idea to Babangida, but as the head of state, he shelved the idea.
“It was when General Abacha came into power that ASUU made some demands to him and brought the idea ASUU had submitted to his predecessor in order to solve the problem. When the documents were brought to him, he studied it for few days and signed it and that was how TETFUND came into being and now institutions are benefiting from it in Nigeria.
“I can assure you that ASUU will come up with a solution that will not stress anyone, including the parents and staff.” he said.
It would be recalled that the Academic body recently shelved their protracted industrial action on which lasted for eight months.
The Union had embarked on the strike action on February 14, 2022 to protest the non-implementation of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding reached with it by the Nigerian Government.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
