Following threats by the National Association
of Nigerian Students, NANS, to shut down
private universities over the protracted strike
embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, Vice Chancellors of private
universities, yesterday, charged the students’
body to mediate between government and
ASUU to return normalcy to the country’s
universities.
Speaking separately in a telephone chat with
Vanguard, the Vice Chancellors argued that
there was no need for the threat, since private
universities were not owned by government
and that their owners didn’t enter into any
agreement with the striking university
lecturers.
They noted that they also have their wards and
relations in public universities, who are
affected by the shutdown.
According to Professor Isaac Adeyemi, Vice
Chancellor, Bells University of Technology,
BELLSTECH, Ota, Ogun State, NANS is made up
of matured minds and must, therefore, broker
peace between government and the aggrieved
lecturers.
He said: “I believe NANS executive is made up
of matured individuals. We also have our kids
and relations in public universities and we are
feeling the pains. Rather than vent their anger
on private universities, they should act as
mediators to broker peace between
government and ASUU. After all, its not a
crime to run private universities, because
parents are sacrificing so much to send their
wards to private universities, where they can
acquire qualitative education. I know they said
it out of desperation, but I know too well that
normalcy will soon return to our public
universities.”
Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, Vice Chancellor,
Caleb University, Lagos, charged government
to avoid wastage in running of the country’s
affairs, but to prioritise the funding of
education, which is a critical sector of the
economy.
Olukoju said: “There was no need for the
threat, since private universities’ owners didn’t
sign any agreement with ASUU. Education is a
free market economy. Its just like a husband
and wife’s quarrel which they must settle.
NANS should mediate between the warring
parties, after all, students have the right to
study anywhere they like. Its a matter of
choice.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/private-varsities-vcs-ask-nans-to-mediate-between-fgasuu/