The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to pursue a genuine course towards the re-positioning of Nigerian Universities and guaranteed future for the children of the masses to access qualitative education in 2017.
ASUU advised President Mohammadu Buhari, and the National Assembly to reflect on the budget presented by the president to the house and ensure that the agreements reached with the union in 2009 and Memorandum of Understanding of 2013 are properly captured to avert any industrial crisis in 2017 in the education sector.
ASUU in a new year message by the Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan Chapter Dr Deji Omole urged Nigerians to be alert to resist any plans by the ruling class to further impoverish them.
While hoping that 2017 will bring a genuine and positive changes to the nation, Nigerian universities and the poor masses who are suffering from the inconsistent policies of the present government, ASUU vows to pursue and defend the rights of the masses and funding of education.
According to Dr Omole, government at all levels must now partner researchers in Nigerian universities to develop the country and invest in public education.
Omole who noted that adequate funding of public education will play a major part in reducing crime and criminality noted that children of the rich will not be secured if children of the poor are denied of their fundamental human rights to education, good health and basic amenities.
The ASUU boss noted that Nigerians must rise in 2017 beyond party affiliation, religious sentiments and ethnic bias and pursue the good of all adding that poverty and suffering does not know political parties, religion or ethnicity.
“May the New year brings genuine and positive change to our dear nation and universities and usher in genuine leadership that will be both responsible and responsive to the plights of the nation and the masses. In the spirit of the season let us as scholars reflect on the state of our Nation and universities and the various struggles and the sacrifices of our union in the past year and beyond. Through our collective and continuous struggle we shall usher in a true change that is required in the system to the benefit of all. While your sacrifices in the year 2016 are appreciated, we sincerely hope that you will continue to support your Union in it’s campaign towards the emancipation of our people. Let us pray for sound health and minds as we struggle through the New year 2017 in line with our mandate.”
