FG Must Stop ‘Spoon-Feeding’ ASUU, Expert Warns

An Abuja-based ICT expert, Otunba Kola Oladeji, has declared that the orientation of members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on technology-driven economy practically negates global standard.
He added that the situation where universities perpetually depend on Federal Government’s subvention to run academic activities without efforts to be self sufficient through research activities portends danger in the Nigerian Ivory Towers.
Oladeji stated this in a press statement made available to newsmen, yesterday.
He was reacting to the protracted feud between ASUU and IPPIS over the Federal Government’s directive to bring members of ASUU on board of IPPIS platform “for transparency and probity in the process of payment of salaries in the Nigerian universities”.
He maintained that many of ASUU’s positions on government’s directives over issues relating to condition of service and welfare defy tenets of mutual respect and relationships between employer and employees, adding that the Federal Government must stop ‘spoon-feeding’ members of ASUU and take firm stance on issue of policy.
“It is only in Nigeria that it is employees that will dictate the pace for their employers on the condition of service, including remuneration and pattern of payment like the case of Federal Government and members of ASUU over enrolment on IPPIS platform.
“I believe a true autonomy has being canvassed by ASUU and university stakeholders is the one with ability and capacity to generate enough resources to meet all the personnel and capital costs in their establishments; the capacity that is obviously absent in Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.