By Ambrose Ologide
Some stakeholders in the education sector have blasted the Federal Government over the prolonged strike action of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) while commenting on United Nations ‘ Day of Protection of Education ‘ marked overall the World on Friday 9th September, 2022.
The Chairman of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON) Warri South Local Government Area Chapter Hon Michael Eboh noted that the said United Nations ‘ s theme was apt in the education sector in Nigeria.
He lamented that the Federal Government has not done enough to protect education in Nigeria.
Eboh referred to the prolonged face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to substantiate his claim.
While commending the United Nations for theme, he urged the UN to wade into the prolonged strike.
The Principal of College of Commerce Warri, Rev Felix Useh, spoke in the same vein.
He accused the Federal Government of trying to kill public universities in Nigeria” because their children are in private universities in Nigeria and abroad. That is why they are insensitive to the plights of the students that are being affected by the ASUU. This is sheer wickedness on the part of Federal Government.” he added.
Similarly, the Chairman of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Uvwie Local Government Area Chapter, Comrade Rose Obi also took a swipe at the Federal Government over the prolonged ASSU strike’
Obi who is also the Vice Chairman Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) Delta State Chapter, argued that the striking lecturers demands were cogent, selfless and for the development of public universities in Nigeria.
Obi noted that it was appalling for a professor to pay a monthly salary of less than five hundred thousand naira in public universities compared to the monthly salary of a professor in other countries of World.
She also called on the Federal Government to pay the seven months’ salary of the lecturers for the period the strike has lasted so far.
Obi reasoned that the strike would not have lasted the period that it lasted so far, if the Federal Government met the demands of ASSU members earlier.
