Despite claims by the Federal government that the sum of N100billion
had been disbursed to 59 public universities to improve infrastructure
in the benefitting institutions, the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, has alleged that none of the universities had
received the said sum.
This is just as former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has
appealed to both parties to strike a compromise for the sake of our
children and the country.
Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi branch of
ASUU, Dr. Celestine Aguoru, who spoke yesterday after leading members of
the branch on a peaceful march around Makurdi town in protest of the
lingering Federal Government/ASUU face-off said: "As we are talking
today, government has not released one kobo out of the N100 billion they
claimed they have given the universities; this goes to show the level
of insincerity of the government.
"The truth is that government is paying lip service to the
development of education in this country and has therefore resorted to
playing politics with the education sector and the future of our
children.
"It is rather unfortunate that majority of those who are leading us
today went to school in their time on scholarships, but today they do
not want our children to benefit from that same gesture, all because of
greed.
"Today we are faced with a situation where the amount Nigerians spend
yearly to educate their children in Ghana is far more than the yearly
budgetary allocation to the education sector.
"Our leaders are not being fair to our country, government should as a
matter of priority implement its agreements with ASUU, Nigerians are
tired of this deceit; they should remember that if they continue to
negate their responsibilities to the people, one day they will certainly
give account to God."
Meanwhile, General Gowon, who spoke in Lagos at the launch the first
edition of the Shell Nigeria Scholars Forum, for the beneficiaries of
its scholarship argued that one of the parties must be prepared to yield
ground in order to save the education sector. He said: "I do believe it
is time for all lovers of education to come together and get both the
federal government and ASUU to return to the negotiation table and
resolve all outstanding grievances. Both sides must be willing to yield
ground for the sake of our children and that of our dear country
Nigeria."
In an elaborate ceremony chaired by Gowon, the Country Chair, Shell
Companies in Nigeria, and Managing Director, SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu,
said the forum "would serve as a meeting place for all beneficiaries of
Shell post secondary scholarship schemes.
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