Academic Staff Union of University ASUU, Kano zone has called on the Nigerian government to urgently address the proliferation of state owned universities in order to salvage the educational system of the country.
The chairman Kano Zone of the union, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad made the call at a press briefing after the end of a zone meeting held at its headquarters in Bayero University Kano.
According to the chairman, federal government claimed that the bill to amend Nigeria University Commission NUC act with a view to empower NUC towards addressing the proliferation of state owned universities is before the national assembly
“We called on the national assembly to as a matter of urgency, consider and pass the bill due to bad governance and under-funding of such universities,” Professor Muhammad said.
He also stated that state owned universities may soon collapse beyond redemption because visitors to such universities have turned the establishments into projects for appeasing electorate in their senatorial and state constituencies.
The union also urged the federal government to honour the agreement reached with ASUU after nine months strike which stipulate that government will fund for the revitalization of public universities.
“The government offered to inject 30 billion naira as tranche of 220 billion naira on or before January 31, 2021.
“The government also agreed to release the sum of 25 billion naira to universities as earn academic allowance by May 2021 as part payment of outstanding arrears.
“The issue which is not yet fulfilled by the government and ASUU is patiently waiting for proper implementation,” the Chairman stated.
On the issue of visitation panel to federal universities, the Chairman noted that the panels had completed their assignments as such urged the government to expedite action on issuance of white paper and full implementation of the recommendation thereof.
“The union called on the stakeholders in education sector and well meaning Nigerians to implore federal government to honour their agreement for the smooth continuation of the current industrial peace and harmony to rain in Nigerian campuses,” Muhammad added.
Kano zone of ASUU comprises Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University Kano, Kaduna State University, Kano University of Science and Technology, Federal University Dutse, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Sule Lamido University Jigawa state.
Nneka Ukachukwu
