ASUU Strike Update : ASUU Accuses NUC of Escalating Crises
This was disclosed in a statement signed by ASUU chairmen of the zone comprising the Benue State University, Makurdi; the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Kogi State University, Anyigba; Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; and the University of Abuja, Abuja.
The statement condemned what it called the detrimental role of NUC which it said has escalated the decay in the university system adding that rather than working hard to uplift the academic quality in the universities, it has embarked on what it called sham accreditation exercises in universities.
“For instance the recent accreditation exercise in University of Abuja was conducted within two hours, and in another case, conducted in a hotel in Gwagwalada. Secondly, the NUC leadership is mainly responsible for the decay in our Universities (as revealed in the 2012 Government sponsored Need’s Assessment Report).
“This report revealed that no Public University in Nigeria has adequate facilities and infrastructure expected of a University, yet the NUC has been awarding ‘full accreditation’ to Universities. This no doubt has been the outcome of some collaboration between the NUC leadership and its ‘loyal’ university administrators,” it said.
The Union which commended the resoluteness of the ASUU members in all branches in their total commitment to the course of the union, stated that reports it has received from its branches has shown that government was yet to convince Nigerians of its willingness to implement the agreement it willingly went into with the union four years ago adding that the strike will continue until it does.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the issues that have warranted the present strike relate to Government’s refusal to properly fund the public universities to the tune of N400billion per annum for three years, commencing from 2012.
“Government has also refused to progressively increase the budgetary allocation to the education sector (to meet the UNESCO minimum of 26%), provide special assistance to State Government Universities, and to compel industries and companies to establish Research Units in the Universities.
“We wish to express appreciation to Nigerian students, parents, the Press, and Nigerians in general, for their unflinching support in this egalitarian struggle. It has been a painful but worthwhile course, and we believe the truth will definitely prevail, for the benefit of the University system, and the country in general,” it concluded.
