The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for urgent action to combat the growing influence of foreign entities and elite control within Nigeria’s political system.
ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this while speaking at the 2024 edition of the Union’s State of the Nation Conference in Abuja yesterday.
The conference, themed “Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development,’’ aims to address the current hopeless state of the country as part of ASUU’s patriotic contribution to recovering Nigeria.
Osodeke noted that ASUU has, over the years, organised periodic national conferences to generate ideas on how to create a governance system that caters to the interests of the Nigerian people.
“The present foreign-controlled governance system serves only the interests of a few predators, primitive accumulators, and foreign organisations. This needs to change.
“I believe that with the selected speakers and participants, we can generate outcomes that will rescue Nigeria from the stronghold of foreign intruders and imperialist exploiters,’’ Osodeke said.
He recalled that the first State of the Nation Conference was held in April 1984 at the University of Benin, Benin City, with the theme: “The State of the Nigerian Economy.’’
That conference, he said took place during a time of severe economic crises, characterized by chronic shortages of essential goods and services, collapsing infrastructure, grand corruption, mass unemployment, and high inflation rates.
Osodeke lamented that the situation today is even worse than it was in 1984.
“If the government had implemented the resolutions from the 1984 conference, we would not be in this predicament today.
I hope the Nigerian government will act on the outcomes of the current National Conference to address the state of our country, allowing Nigerians to benefit from the natural resources bestowed upon us by God.“
„Nigeria is too rich for its citizens to languish in extreme poverty. Our common patrimony must be used for the common good. To this end, Nigerians must be rescued from all exploiters and oppressors, whether they are citizens or foreigners,“ he added.
Meanwhile, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged ASUU to explore alternative means of resolving industrial disputes within the university system, asking them to shelve plans for another strike once the fourteen-day ultimatum issued to the government elapses.
„While I understand the painful decisions involved before ASUU calls for a strike, we must strive to maintain industrial harmony and stability in universities through an alternative dispute resolution system.
„I urge ASUU to consider other options for resolving disputes after the fourteen-day ultimatum expires. I promise to use the resources of the House of Representatives to facilitate the necessary interventions to resolve outstanding issues.“
„In recent years, we have witnessed a series of industrial disputes that have disrupted academic calendars and hindered the pursuit of knowledge. The impact of strikes on students‘ education cannot be overstated, as it affects their future and undermines the integrity of our educational system,“ he said.
He commended ASUU for its commitment to advancing national development, noting its instrumental role in shaping Nigeria‘s educational landscape and advocating for policies that promote academic excellence and social equity.
„Through relentless campaigns for improved funding for universities, better working conditions for academic staff, and enhanced welfare for students, ASUU has not only championed educators‘ causes but has also laid the foundation for sustainable national development.“
