The Academic Staff Union of Universities has alleged that it rejected Dr. Wale Babalakin, who is the leader of Federal Government’s team to intervene in the problems in public universities, because of his interest.
Chairman, ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, said Babalakin’s committee was rejected by the union because “he is an interested party pursuing a private university licence and will do everything to jeopardise public education funding”.
Omole said the ongoing strike by the union would continue until the Federal Government resolves all the issues in contention.
According to him, ASUU’s first meeting with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, did not address the real issues which led to the strike.
While speaking to journalists on Thursday, Omole said the union would not allow public officers to destroy education in the country.
The ASUU chief maintained that the three-week-old strike was aimed at ensuring a better future for the children of the poor.
He dismissed the allegations that the strike is political.
Omole said, “How can our strike be political when there are matters that you as government signed into and you failed to fulfil your promises?”
To us, it is the Federal Government that is being political with the truth by becoming untrustworthy. How can the President and his deputy be asking Nigerian universities to be among the leading universities in the world without making the same commitments responsive and responsible governments in other countries are making? Our leadership have shown consistent disrespect for agreements and this is why they can no longer be trusted by our union.”
