Declare Emergency in Education, ASUU Tells FG

25 July 2013 , By Dele Ogunyemi and Johnkennedy Uzoma, Source: Daily Trust

Ibadan and Owerri

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has tasked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the education sector in order to address the rot in the system.

The union also urged the government to teach the younger generation how to honour agreements by implementing what it agreed with the union.

According to the national treasurer of ASUU, Dr Ademola Aremu, it is better to close down universities in the country than to continue to produce ignorance in the claim that "we are producing students".

Dr. Aremu who was the immediate past chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, stated this while participating in a television programme monitored in Ibadan.

He stated: "Ghana is now home to Nigerian students and children of the elite in particular because Ghana shut down the education system for two years and now they are enjoying the gains of the struggle. We may have to borrow a leaf from them and put our education on sound footing to stop outsiders from making us a laughing stock. Nigerians pay close to N100 billion to access education in Ghana."

The ASUU chieftain added that the lip service being paid to the education sector in Nigeria accounts for the rot in the system.

"We cannot continue to churn out poorly educated graduates. We cannot condone the lip service being paid to education by the Nigerian government, the majority of who train their children in foreign universities. We are calling on Nigerians to rise up and challenge the Federal Government to prioritize education and develop the country. The Asian tigers developed because of education. Students, parents, and well meaning Nigerians must rise up and tell the government that enough is enough," he said.

Meanwhile, chairperson of ASUU, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Dr.Ikenna Nwachukwu, has said that that time for negotiation with the Federal Government is over.

Nwachukwu, at a news conference said the implication of the union shifting ground might portend danger by allowing Nigerian universities not only to produce half backed graduates but to allow the institutions remain in comatose.

wat do dey expect students to do if d universities r closed for a few years .... cos if dat happens most students won't be interested in attending the universities anymore

This is getting stupidly foolish....Close what? That's uncool mehn, if dey wanna close,dey shud end admission n complete d sessions dey have started not closing universities just like dat...Dey shud b considerate joor

Dubemkelly: This is getting stupidly foolish....Close what? That's uncool mehn, if dey wanna close,dey shud end admission n complete d sessions dey have started not closing universities just like dat...Dey shud b considerate joor

Go teach yourself.

Dubemkelly: This is getting stupidly foolish....Close what? That's uncool mehn, if dey wanna close,dey shud end admission n complete d sessions dey have started not closing universities just like dat...Dey shud b considerate joor

. Ï completely agree wit u

General_P: wat do dey expect students to do if d universities r closed for a few years .... cos if dat happens most students won't be interested in attending the universities anymore

. Imagine a situation whereby universities are closed 4 four years,Ï doubt if those currently in year one and two will want to continue afterwards! Although,its 4 d greater gud.