Sokoto, Nigeria – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has applauded the Federal Government for placing a moratorium on the establishment of new public universities but insisted that the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement must resume without delay.
The commendation was made on Thursday in Sokoto during a press briefing on the outcome of the union’s Zonal National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, described the moratorium as a step in line with ASUU’s long-standing warnings against unchecked proliferation of universities without proper funding or development plans.
“For over a decade, our union has warned about the harmful effects of establishing ‘mushroom’ universities without concrete plans for their development. We were therefore not surprised when the Minister of Education revealed that over 30 universities had zero subscription for admission,” Sabo said.
He clarified that while ASUU acknowledges the right of private individuals to establish universities, government must guarantee quality and prevent profiteering in the education sector.
Sabo also urged the Federal Government to reconvene talks on the 2009 agreement, stressing that the draft renegotiated document covered critical issues such as conditions of service, university autonomy, academic freedom, sustainable funding, and reforms of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Universities Commission (NUC).
Among other pressing demands highlighted by the union were the payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, sustainable funding for universities, and revitalisation of decaying infrastructure.
The union also expressed deep concern over the plight of retired academics under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
“Our retired colleagues bear the brunt of government’s policies, suffering under galloping inflation of over 21 per cent and the rising costs of electricity, transport, housing, food, and medication. It is unacceptable and cruel that a senior academic with more than 40 years of service receives a paltry N150,000 monthly pension in today’s harsh economic climate,” Sabo lamented.
He confirmed that the NEC resolved to exercise patience pending an anticipated meeting with the Federal Government but stressed that the outcome of the talks would determine the union’s next course of action.
“The outcome will inform our next steps in addressing our demands and calming our membership after over two years of waiting,” he added.
