NAN-H-61
Strike
By Mohammed Baba-Busu
Keffi (Nasarawa State) Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Dr Nghargbu K’tso, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasarawa State chapter, has called on the Federal Government to fulfill the demands of the union to avert indefinite strike.
K’tso made the appeal when he spoke with newsmen in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
He added that this would also bring peace in the education sector.
He said if the Federal Government released the outstanding N880billion meant for critical intervention projects of university education, it would not only avert strike but would also improve the standard of education.
“The one week ASUU warning strike which began from 12.01 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16 will be ending today, Tuesday, Nov. 22, by 12.00 might night and the warning strike is to compel government to address our demands.
“It is in view of this that I appeal to the Federal Government to respond sufficiently, adequately and responsibly so as to ensure that there would be no more warning strike or even indefinite strike in the interest of the education of the poor children.
“I am also appealing to Nigerians for understanding, the goal of the strike is to improve on the quality or standard of university education as no meaningful progress could be achieved in a country without sound education.
“Nobody wishes for strike because strike has its own consequences either in the economy and social life among other negative effects.
“There is need for government to show more commitment to the funding of universities and welfare of lecturers in order to save the country’s universities from collapsing’’, he said.
K’tso said that adequate funding of universities would address the problems of infrastructure decay, research development and would also boost the nation’s revenue base thereby discouraging people from studying abroad.
He said the Treasury Single Account (TSA), has affected the education sector negatively and urged the government to exempt universities from the policy.
“TSA has affected the universities system, research grants have not been accessed because TETFUND too is having problem of accessing its fund and young academics who are to benefit from grant for local and international training had no access”, he added.
The ASUU chairman restated the commitment of the association to continue to initiate policies and programmes that had direct bearing on the lives of their members and students for the overall development of the country.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the demands of the union include: funding for revitalisation of public universities based on the Federal Government/ ASUU MoU of Nov. 2013 and non-release of subvention to state universities by their visitors.
Others are payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA); shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries; registration of NUPEMCO and exemption of universities from TSA. (NAN)
BAB/FF/IEA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idahosa Asowata