THE on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has become a source of concern as it has brought untold pain to parents and guardians whose children and wards are idling away when they are supposed to be in classrooms.
ASUU wants government to implement a 2009 Joint Agreement it entered with government. Among other things, ASUU says university lecturers are being owed N80billion to which government did not dispute. The union also wants 26 percent annual budgetary allocation to the education sector out of which it wants 50 percent to be allocated to universities.
Government on its side has released N30billion with a promise to pay the remaining in instalments. The government has in addition set aside N400billion for Infrastructural development in the universities out of which it has released N100billion bringing to a total of N130billion.
While making these offers, the Chairman of the Universities Needs Implementation Committee, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State assured ASUU of government’s determination to implement the content of the 2009 agreement and pleaded with the union to call off its strike. But ASUU’s president, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, has sworn to continue until their demands are met. But there is a need for ASUU and its members to borrow a leaf from teachers in Benue State and show some level of understanding in dealing with this matter.
