Emmanuel Osodeke, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has emphasized that the union will take decisive action within the next two weeks if the federal government does not fulfil the agreements they have committed to. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently, Osodeke highlighted the urgency of the situation amidst looming protests by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
According to Osodeke, discussions during a recent meeting convened by the Minister of Education concluded with a mutual agreement to reconvene in two weeks’ time to assess the government’s progress. “After two weeks, we will review the government’s efforts and evaluate any advancements made,” he stated. The outcome of this upcoming meeting will dictate ASUU’s next course of action if the government fails to honor the commitments made.
Furthermore, Osodeke underscored that the federal government has yet to implement crucial agreements renegotiated since 2009. He expressed disappointment that, since 2013, only one of these agreements has been partially fulfilled. Osodeke emphasized the critical need for revitalization funds to modernize Nigerian universities, aiming to attract students and faculty members from across the globe.
“In order to maintain international standards and accommodate a diverse academic community, our universities require substantial revitalization,” Osodeke added, highlighting the importance of these funds for enhancing educational infrastructure nationwide.
