The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise education and safeguard the future of Nigerian youths through genuine commitment to resolving all outstanding issues in the nation’s university system.

This was contained in a statement issued at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Taraba State University, Jalingo, and signed by its President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna.

Piwuna said government’s back and forth approach to negotiation had continued to delay meaningful progress, warning that such indecision could have grave consequences for the future of education in the country.

“Government must stop paying lip service to education. The surest way to protect the future of our country is to invest in education,” he said.

He recalled that ASUU had suspended its one-month warning strike in October out of respect for students, parents, and well-meaning Nigerians who appealed for dialogue, hoping that government would reciprocate with sincerity and urgency.

“We suspended the strike in good faith, believing that one month was enough to conclude renegotiations if government acted with sincerity. Unfortunately, that faith is being tested,” he said.

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Piwuna described the government’s proposed salary increment as a mere drop in the ocean, adding that it was not sufficient to address the worsening brain drain and declining morale among university lecturers.

“What we need is a living wage that reflects the dignity of academic labour. Anything less will continue to push our best brains out of the country,” he added.

The ASUU president also faulted the perception of education as a commercial commodity rather than a public good that underpins national development.

“Education should not be treated as a business venture. It is a social investment that guarantees sustainable development,” Piwuna said.

He urged the government to use the remaining days of the one-month window to conclude all pending negotiations and implement agreements in the spirit of fairness and transparency.

He also called on traditional rulers, labour unions, students, and civil society organisations to continue to press the government to do what is right for the education sector.

“Our call is simple, prioritise education, honour agreements, and protect the future of this nation,” Piwuna said.(NAN)

The Senate, on Friday, waded into the ongoing crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government which had resulted in a two-week warning strike.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, made this known after a meeting with the union at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Dandutse, while acknowledging “the concerns and frustrations” that had led to the action, assured that the committee would take the issues raised by ASUU seriously.

“This is because we recognise the critical role that our universities play in shaping the future of our nation and we are committed to ensuring that they receive the support they need to thrive.

“We are not in support of any academic strike; we are not in support of any threat by the executives.

“We are here as those who are elected to oversight you and ensure that you work effectively and efficiently.

“If you look at the situation in Nigeria, it has been a long issue and a prolonged issue of ASUU strike.

“We need to address it holistically and it will do us well at the end of the process. So we want you to understand that we are all here to be accountable,” the senator said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after a closed-door session, Dandutse said that the committee resolved to convey its position to the Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC).

“This is for a negotiation as soon as possible so that we can resolve this lingering problem.

“The senate committee also agreed to interface with the Minister of FCT to resolve the issue of University of Abuja’s land which was not taken from them.

“Also, other needs will be studied and appropriate steps will be taken to ensure amicable resolution,” he said.

Earlier, the ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said that the union was currently on a two-week warning strike.

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“Unfortunately, the journey that led us to where we are today did not start with this executive,” he said.

The ASUU president said that the key issue in the draft agreement was that of sustainable funding for tertiary institutions.

“Others are: condition of service, autonomy and academic freedom in Nigerian universities as well as other issues that concern the governance of the institutions,” he said

Piwuna also called on the senate to intervene in the land belonging to University of Abuja but which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had allegedly revoked.

“We need to deal with this problem. In spite of the several calls and releases by our union, our branch in University of Abuja, the minister is still determined to go ahead and take the land of the university,” he said.

The ASUU president urged the senate to pay more attention to the budgetary allocation to the education sector to better the lot of the institutions.

In an interview with newsmen. Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, said that the upper chamber would do everything possible to resolve the lingering crisis as soon as possible.

“Education, as I always said, is the bedrock of every society. And we cannot afford to leave our children, who are mostly in the public universities, to stay at home,” he stated.

Barau noted that President Bola Tinubu, at all times, was willing to make sure that whatever constitute an impediment to the country’s education system, was resolved as soon as possible.

“The president, I’m sure, is working round the clock to make sure that this matter is resolved,” he said.

(NAN)