Academic Staff Union of Universities has said that the Federal
Government should be held responsible for the continuation of its strike
which entered the third week on Monday.
ASUU Chairman at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Deji Omole, who said
this on a radio programme monitored in Ibadan, said the Federal
Government could end the strike by implementing the agreement it reached
with the union.
He said ASUU had only called on the Federal Government to use
public funds to develop public education in the country. The ASUU
chairman also noted that the union would not shy away from embracing
purposeful dialogue with the authorities..
“ASUU has never run away from negotiation. The issue in
contention is about implementation and not negotiation as being peddled
by the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige.
“It is sad that successive governments, including the
incumbent, failed to realise that funding education is an investment
which can bring about enduring positive change in the country,” said Omole.
He added that the union would continue to fight to enable the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibilities.
Omole stated, “When you reach an agreement, you must implement
it. Why are we celebrating the Sallah festival? It is because someone
promised to sacrifice his son to God and decided to fulfil his promise.
God replaced the sacrifice with a ram and that is why we are
celebrating.
“Jesus Christ also promised to die for the sin of the world and he came to fulfil that promise.
“Why will government not fulfil the promises contained in the
signed agreement? Government should see education as an investment. The
products will come out to change society.
“If our universities are properly funded, we can conduct
cutting-edge research that can take us out of recession. What we are
simply saying is that FG should use public funds to fund public
education.”