The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Kano Zone is concerned about the growing hunger and suffering among Nigerians, warning that the country is heading towards chaos and disorder.Â
They blame this situation on the severe shortage of food and basic necessities affecting the people.
During a recent press conference held in Kano, Dr. Abdulkadir Muhammad, who coordinates ASUU in the region, expressed these worries.
He explained that the government’s adoption of economic policies influenced by international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank could lead to more instability and uncertainty in Nigeria.
Dr. Muhammad emphasized that as intellectuals, they prefer to engage with civil society groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rather than participating in ongoing protests.
Their aim is to push the government to abandon these policies that they believe are hurting ordinary Nigerians.
One major issue highlighted by ASUU is the failure of the government to honor agreements signed with the union.
They stress the importance of implementing these agreements to avoid future strikes in Nigerian universities.
One key aspect of these agreements is the need to review and update the terms, especially considering the significant devaluation of the local currency, which has severely affected the purchasing power of university staff.
ASUU also called on the government to address the issue of unpaid salaries for university staff.
While some partial payments have been made, there are still outstanding balances that need to be settled urgently.
Additionally, they urge the Kaduna State Government to promptly pay the withheld salaries of staff at Kaduna State University.
Furthermore, ASUU in the Kano Zone is advocating for a review of the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) Act to regulate the establishment of new universities.
They argue that without adequate funding, the proliferation of universities will only exacerbate existing challenges within the education sector.
ASUU is raising important concerns about the state of affairs in Nigeria, particularly regarding economic policies, salary payments, and the quality of higher education.
They are calling on the government to take urgent action to address these issues and restore hope for the country’s universities and its people.
