The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday that the Union will not rest until the federal government revamps public education from its current bad state.
ASUU said his members would have died for nothing if it drops the struggle for quality infrastructure and better working conditions for Nigerian varsities.
ASUU chairman University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole stated this on Thursday at the Lying-in-state ceremony in honour of Late Professor of Exercise Physiology, Ademola Olasupo Abass held at the Trenchard hall of the University of Ibadan.
In an emotion laden tribute, Omole said it was sad that the Buhari administration has put budget to education on ‘reverse gear’ with unimpressive yearly reduction in the percentage allocated to education.
He said although the present government promised to increase budget to education when it gets to power to about 20percent, “Omole noted that the Buhari administration does not value education a fact why it is not on his priority list.
According to Omole, due to unimproved infrastructure and non-implementation of key agreements signed with the government many lecturers are now resigning and relocating abroad for greener pastures.
“I recall the ruling party during campaigns and its flagbearer then promising to target up to 20percent for this critical sector. But what have we witnessed? Budget allocation to education has taken downward trends. Conditions of service and infrastructure have been dismal. Our colleagues are dying and those already stressed up with our unimpressive education administration have started relocating to a better place. This is pathetic. Nigerians should tell President Buhari to spare the lives of lecturers who are over burdened by excess workload and are facing health challenges that they have no money to treat due to poor wages.”
The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Idowu Olayinka who betrayed emotions while reading his tribute, extolled the principles of the late professor Abass whom he said had served the university in several capacities ad contributed in no small measure to the development of the institution.
