Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described as totally absurd and unreasonable, the proposed 47 new universities by the Federal Government of Nigeria
The bill for the establishment of the 47 new federal universities had last Wednesday scaled through second reading at the House of Representatives
But Chairman of ASUU branch at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr. Oluwagbemiga Adeleye in an exclusive interview with Edu-Biznews on Saturday, expressed concern that the
government rather than funding the existing 52 universities and creating enabling working environment for both academic and non-academic staff, is proposing additional universities
"Establishing extra 47 new federal universities is totally absurd and unreasonable", the union stated
"The same Federal Government that have neglected the existing 52 universities, shown disdain to improving the working environment, suppress and oppress the existing University staff, consistently interfere with University autonomy and failed to pay arrears in all ramifications (Promotion arrears for some universities since 2013 till date while many Federal universities are yet to receive from 2018 till date, pay withheld salaries, Earned academic allowances in full etc are thinking of establishing new ones to do what?, ASUU asked rhetorically
The union added that there would not be need for the new federal universities,if the existing ones were adequately funded by government
"If the existing ones are adequately funded and taken care of, there will be no need for establishing any new federal universities"
The university staff in the existing ones according to ASUU, are not being paid living wages because we have leaders that don't understand what governance means.
"Any nation that trivializes the growth and development of it's ivory towers will definitely be stagnated"
"Addition or Multiplication of the existing federal universities will be a disaster", the union warned
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