National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has criticized the federal government’s approach to resolving critical issues affecting the education sector.
In an exclusive interview with Tunbosun Ogundare, he reflected on the challenges of 2024, which he described as a year of missed opportunities for the government to address ASUU’s longstanding demands.
According to Osodeke, ASUU has repeatedly provided the government with opportunities to resolve contentious issues, but these efforts have yielded no tangible results.
He lamented that despite numerous discussions, the same unresolved matters persist, including the renegotiation of agreements, withheld salaries, and the non-disbursement of funds promised for university revitalization and earned academic allowances.
Osodeke stated that ASUU has decided not to set a new agenda for 2025 but instead called on the government to implement existing agreements made since it assumed office 18 months ago.
He expressed frustration over the government’s perceived lack of seriousness, noting that the union has given ample time to avoid industrial action.
However, he warned that ASUU would proceed with a nationwide strike if the government fails to act promptly in early January.
He dismissed government claims of significant investment in education, asserting that there is no visible impact of the purported funds in public universities.
He also criticized policies such as student loans, arguing that grants would be a better alternative to support students.
The ASUU President also questioned the government’s priority in underfunding education while allocating resources to other areas.
He highlighted the importance of education as a foundation for national development and urged the government to increase its funding allocation to the sector.
Osodeke concluded by expressing doubt about meaningful progress in the education sector under the current administration unless there is a significant shift in governance priorities.
He called on Nigerians to demand accountability and better leadership to improve the country’s education system.
