Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed displeasure that two years after its former president Professor Festus Iyayi was killed by a government convoy in Kogi State, the Federal Government was yet to fully implement the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement.
Professor Festus Iyayi, a former ASUU president was killed in a convoy of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada while on their way to attend an emergency ASUU meeting to suspend the six-month old strike in 2013.
The Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Professor Segun Ajiboye in a release signed and entitled “Iyayi must not die in Vain” stated that it was saddening that since 2013 when ASUU suspended the strike, universities were yet to get any intervention fund aside from the N200 billion released in 2013 from the promised N1.3 trillion adding that nothing was received in 2014 and 2015.
ASUU therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the new Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to pay outstanding intervention funds (N1.3trillion), earned academic allowances and commence renegotiation of the agreement.
Ajiboye who was part of an enlarged congress held in honour of Iyayi at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye lamented that infrastructure at Nigerian universities remained dilapidated while working environment is not conducive to impart knowledge.
He added that science students face hardship doing research as laboratories are outdated and poorly equipped.
Ajiboye said academic staff in Nigerian universities are getting restive because of the failure of government to attend fully to the agreements adding that it was high time the government of president Buhari invested in Education for a secured future of the country.
ASUU noted that heroic leaders around the world invested in education and ensured it was available for the children of the masses to have access to it adding that the future remains bleak until adequate investment is committed to education.
”Precisely November 12, 2013 the union (ASUU) and the Nation lost an academic icon in a ghastly motor accident involving one of the vehicles in the convoy of the Kogi state governor, Idris Wada along Lokoja-Abuja road during which Professor Festus Iyayi was murdered. ASUU directed its branches nationwide to organize different programs to Honour of Iyayi.
“In Olabisi Onabanjo University, a congress was organized and massively attended. At the University of Ibadan we have appraised the state of education since the last struggle. We are sad that not much has been achieved.
“We remain resolute to fight for qualitative education in Nigeria to liberate the minds of our people and the masses. Festus Iyayi fought for the masses and lived an exemplary life. We are calling on the new minister and President Buhari to ensure that education is available to the children of the poor.
“The new Minister is also called upon to fully implement the agreement reached with the union. The National Assembly must vote the UNICEF 26% percent if any change is expected in the Nigerian education sector. Iyayi’s dream for education in Nigeria must not die”
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