Declare State Of Emergency In Education Sector Now, Group Tells FG
…Says ASUU needs to dialogue in Nigeria’s interest
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – A non-government organisation on the aegis of Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF), has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency and necessity, declare a state of emergency in the education sector to decisively address issues leading to constant face-off between education stakeholders in the country.
This is just as it appealed to the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to embrace dialogue over their demands in the interest of the nation.
The UNYF said it was unacceptable that while government finds money to buy exotic cars for lawmakers, finance the outrageously expensive treatment of Mr. President and guarantees luxurious lifestyle for political officeholders, the same government is unable to find money to fund public education and meet the UNESCO recommendation of 26 per cent of our annual budget.
The group in a statement signed by its President, Abdulsalam Muhammad Kazeem, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of deliberate policy stop politicians and political appointees from sending their children abroad to choice schools and private universities in the country.
It noted that such a policy would go a long way in improving the standard of public schools adding that the time has come for the President to sack non-performing ministers and heads of agencies.
Kazeem further said; “We call on federal government to immediately dialogue with ASUU in order to avoid a situation where students waste away at home and been recruited by politician for anti-social activities while their children continued to attend classes abroad.
“Our government finds it difficult to fund public education and ensure a stable academic calendar because of her agenda, which feeds the greed of the capitalist ruling elite who corner over 80 per cent of the country’s wealth thus leaving little or nothing to fund essential services.
“As far as we are concerned, Nigeria has enough wealth (resources) which if judiciously managed can fund education adequately and even ensure provision of free and democratically managed public education at all levels.”
The group advised ASUU to set-up a think-tank to come up with more effective alternatives to their continuous demand which is currently posing a threat to their intellectual claims.
“ASUU need to thread the part of negotiation with dialogue rather than embarking on strike every now and then. We appeal to them to reconsider their decision.”
