ABRAKA, NIGERIA – The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced strong concerns over the continued infrastructural decay, poor funding, and the unchecked proliferation of universities in Nigeria. Prof. Monday Igbafen, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Benin Zone, articulated these issues during a news conference held at Delta State University, Abraka, on Wednesday.
The conference, which addressed unresolved issues between ASUU and the government, brought together representatives from several universities in the Benin Zone. These include the University of Benin, Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba Akoko, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology in Okitipupa, Delta State University in Abraka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun, and University of Delta in Agbor.
Prof. Igbafen highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the briefing aimed to alert critical stakeholders and the public about a looming crisis in Nigeria’s public universities due to governmental neglect. He emphasized that the proliferation of universities without adequate funding was a significant factor behind the prolonged 2022 ASUU strike.
“In 2020, the ASUU-FGN Memorandum of Action underscored the need to review the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) Act to curb the reckless proliferation of universities by federal and state governments,” Igbafen stated. He criticized politicians for establishing universities as constituency projects without ensuring proper budgetary allocations, thereby straining the intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Igbafen urged both federal and state governments to halt the creation of new universities and instead focus on adequately funding existing institutions to elevate their standards to match global counterparts. He lamented the negative impact of neo-liberal policies on public education and the welfare of academics, describing the situation as one where Nigerian academics have become an endangered species.
“Recall that our union has been confronting the Federal Government on numerous issues, including the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, the absence of governing councils in federal and state universities, and the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances,” he added. Other concerns include withheld salaries and promotion arrears, third-party deductions, illegal recruitment, the abuse of university rules and processes, and the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Igbafen warned that if these longstanding issues are not addressed promptly and effectively, another crisis in the nation’s public universities is imminent.
In related news, Dr. Paul Opone from the Department of History and International Studies was elected Chairman of the ASUU Delta State University, Abraka Chapter. He succeeds Prof. Godwin Demaki from the Department of Business Administration. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Opone committed to pursuing unresolved issues from the previous administration, including the over N150 million promotion arrears owed to members.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr. Opone’s administration aims to prioritize members’ welfare and ensure the resolution of critical issues affecting the university’s academic staff.
The call for immediate action underscores the pressing need for sustainable solutions to ensure the stability and growth of Nigeria’s higher education sector.