The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Chris Piwuna, has accused the Federal Government of neglecting the education sector, saying officials do not treat the country’s educational problems as a collective national concern.
Piwuna made this known during The Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, in a virtual discussion themed “A Conversation with the ASUU President.” He said the indifference of key government officials toward education has stalled sustainable reforms in the sector.
According to him, members of the Federal Executive Council often perceive education challenges as the sole responsibility of the Minister of Education, rather than a shared national priority.
“Members of the government, the ministers, and chief executives do not see the problem of education as a problem that affects them,” Piwuna said.
“When ASUU declares a strike, the Minister of Finance sees it as the Minister of Education’s problem; the Minister of Science and Technology sees it the same way. But if the Minister of Finance understood that the country’s economic growth depends on a knowledgeable workforce, he would take the Minister of Education’s problem as his own.”
The ASUU president lamented that ideological differences and corruption have worsened the government’s response to education issues, adding that those in power treat education as a business rather than a public good.
“Many of them now suggest that TETFund should begin funding private universities. Even the last Chief of Staff to the President, who never did that while in government, is now a Pro-Chancellor advocating it. Self-interest and contract inflation have replaced public service. That is why TETFund has become a marketplace,” he added.
The host, historian Prof. Toyin Falola, led a panel discussion featuring Prof. Francis Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan, economist Prof. Sherrifdeen Tella, and Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, among others.
Prof. Egbokhare attributed the problems of Nigerian universities to poor leadership, infrastructural decay, and lack of accountability.
“You look around our universities and see poorly constructed buildings in an era when sustainable design should be standard. We must fix leadership selection and integrity issues within our universities,” he said.
Egbokhare further noted that funding should not be the sole focus of reform, urging government agencies to engage universities for research and consultancy services.
On his part, Ajaero called for a holistic approach to solving the education crisis, stressing that reforms should extend beyond university autonomy to include improvements at the primary and secondary levels.
Economist Prof. Tella added that the nation’s disregard for research has contributed significantly to underdevelopment.
“When farmers plant good seeds that yield better harvests, it’s due to research by academics. Unfortunately, the system has neglected research for too long,” he said.
Speaking on ASUU’s ongoing National Executive Council meeting in Taraba State, Piwuna disclosed that negotiations with the Federal Government were nearing conclusion but described the current salary proposals as “unacceptable.”
“The terms of the agreement are shaping up, and in the next week or two, we’ll make a definite statement. But what the government is offering us as salaries is nothing to write home about, and we are ready to go to any length to fight it,” he warned.
He also lamented the poor living conditions of lecturers, saying many struggle to survive due to inadequate pay and decaying infrastructure.
“Some of our colleagues sleep in their offices with their families because of poor living conditions. How can such people be expected to source endowments or drive world-class research?” he asked.
Piwuna concluded that the ongoing crisis reflects the government’s misplaced priorities and failure to recognize education as the foundation of national development.
