*The Academic Staff Union of Universities again demands payment of its members’ withheld salaries, frowns on the increasing anti-labour posture of Nigerian Government suggestive of abrogation of the principle of collective bargaining agreement’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has opposed the proposed introduction of education loan in the economy.

ConsumerConnect reports the academic union stated the idea has proved to be a monumental failure in Nigeria, and some other countries where it was introduced.

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement issued Monday, December 5, 2022, said that the academic union was troubled that the proponents of the policy are so eager to foist it down the throats of Nigerians when they have done more to push Nigerians into poverty through sheer incompetence in handling the economic fortunes of the country.

ASUU said, “NEC observed with concern the systematic disengagement of government from funding of Public Universities through the proposed introduction of education loan which has proved to be a monumental failure in our nation and some other countries where it was introduced.

“We find it troubling that the proponents of the policy are so eager to foist it down the throat of Nigerians when they have done more to push the working people of this country into poverty through sheer incompetence in handling the economic fortunes of the West African country.

Prof. Osodeke noted this, following ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which held at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State.

Meanwhile, the lecturers have appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail upon the Federal Government to release their withheld salaries.

The union alleged what they view as casualisation, the payment of salaries to some of its members October 2022, based on pro-rata.

The ASUU leaders also appreciated the members and their families for their resilience.

They assured them that their understanding and perseverance, in the face of hardship and provocation occasioned by government’s intransigence and insensitivity, shall be rewarded by posterity.

Education loan for Nigerian learners?

ASUU President said the union was disturbed by the alleged government’s underhand moves to price University education beyond the reach of the poor Nigerian students and their parents through the introduction of various charges.

“We commend student bodies who have seen through this ruinous path and are rising up to the

Renegotiation of 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement

In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Universities said, “the Union calls the attention of Nigerians to the lingering issue of renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement which was the initial issue that led to the just suspended strike

“More worrisome is the increasing anti-labour posture of government, suggestive of attempts to abrogate the principle of collective bargaining agreement.

NEC rejects in totality government’s arrogant insistence on handling down an award instead of a bargained salary package.”