16th July, 2013
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday decried the level of decay in Nigerian universities, saying 200 and 300 level students could not write simple letter.
The Chairman of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) branch, Dr. Mohammed Aliyu disclosed this while addressing a news conference in Zaria.
He said: “It is disheartening to note that students in 200, even 300 level cannot write simple letter. This has shown how poor our education standard is.”
Speaking on the on-going strike, the chairman said it was not about salary increment, but to compel the federal government to honour the 2009 agreement with the union.
“After three years of serious negotiation, government signed the October 2009 agreement with our union.
“The agreement is aimed at addressing the rot in the Nigerian university system and enhancing its overall efficiency.
“The agreement focuses on funding requirements for revitalisation of the Nigerian universities, federal government assistance to state universities.
“Progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 percent between 2009 and 2020 and amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65-70 years.”
The chairman said after signing the agreement, both federal and state governments developed cold feet, forcing the union to embark on a warning strike before proceeding on an indefinite action.
Aliyu said that ASUU had tried to avoid another round of crisis in the university system, by writing to the Secretary to Government of the Federation and the Minister of Education in February, reminding them of the pending issues.
“The letter highlighted outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement and the subsequent 2012 memorandum of understanding,” the chairman said.
He listed other issues to include, the non injection of N100 billion intervention funds in 2012 as federal government assistance to state universities, payment of earned academic allowances, raising education budget to 26 percent and setting up research units in companies.