Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights attorney, on Tuesday, July 12, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate action to fulfil the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Equally important, Buhari had spoken out on the ongoing university professors’ strike on Monday.
Correspondingly, the strike, which started on February 14, 2022, has caused academic activity at public universities in Nigeria to cease.
Specifically, Buhari warned the lecturers on strike that enough was enough. As a matter of fact, this was disclosed in a statement released by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.
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Falana, however, charged that the government disregarded the union’s initial warning strikes.
“Four months ago, ASUU commenced the current strike to compel the Federal Government to comply with the FG/ASSU Agreement on funding of all federal universities in Nigeria. According to the binding agreement, the total fund which the FG ought to have provided to revamp the universities is N200 billion; in line with its obligation under the Agreement.
“Before then, the warning strikes embarked upon by ASUU was ignored by the Federal Government.
”Thus, the ongoing industrial action which has paralysed the federal universities has lingered on; due to the refusal of the Federal Government to meet its commitment under the FG/ASUU Agreement. However, in justifying the unwarranted breach of the Agreement; the Federal Government has complained of a lack of fund.
“Instead of addressing the outstanding grey areas in the prolonged negotiations; President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Visitor to all federal universities in the country; has urged ASUU to consider the long-term effect of the strike on students and the generational consequences on families; the educational system and the future development of the country.
“The claim of the Federal Government that it lacks the financial resources to fund university education has been taken with a pinch of salt by the Nigerian people.
”Having regard to the way and manner huge public fund has been expended on other projects; it does appear that the Federal Government has not prioritised higher education,” Falana stated.
