The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had insisted on Monday, 4th of August, 2017 that only the implementation of the agreement reached with the union by the Federal Government would end the strike and nothing more.
ASUU described government’s handling of the issue as “mockery of global standards of university education.”
The union asked federal government to use public funds to fund public education.
The Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, stated these while featuring in a program on Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS AM120) monitored in Ibadan.
Omole, who said ASUU has never run away from negotiation, argued that the issue in connection with the strike is about implementation and not negotiation as disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The ASUU chairman said it was sad that successive governments failed to realize that funding of education is an investment that would bring about enduring positive change in Nigeria.
He said: “When you reached agreement you must implement it. They just finished Ileya festival and why are we celebrating? It was because someone promised to sacrifice his son to God. When he decided to fulfill it, God replaced that with ram and that is why we are celebrating. Jesus Christ also promised to come and die for the sin of the world and he came and fulfill that promise and that is why you still have people who believe in his second coming. Why will government not fulfill their promises contained in signed agreements? That is what brings crisis. Government should see education as investment. The products will come out to change society.
“University is to develop ideas to change society. What we are doing in the universities is a mockery of university education. Government should pump in money so that we can solve Nigeria’s problems here in Nigeria.
“If our universities are properly funded, we can conduct cutting edge researches that can take us out of the recession. What we are simply saying is the federal government should use public funds to fund public education.
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