ASUU Accuses World Bank, IMF Of Sabotaging Nigeria’s Public Universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday raised concerns over a concerted effort to undermine Nigeria’s public universities. At ASUU’s 2024 Heroes Day celebration in Abuja, ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, accused the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) of pursuing policies detrimental to the nation’s public education system.

According to Osodeke, these institutions have played a significant role in fostering conditions that threaten the quality and stability of public higher education in Nigeria.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that ASUU expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in the renegotiation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government. Despite numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs), the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement remains unresolved, a situation that has continued to strain relations between the union and the government.

The union also criticized the enforcement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) across public universities, even after the Federal Executive Council had announced its plan to discontinue the system in tertiary education institutions.

Osodeke further highlighted that the Federal Government is still withholding three and a half months of salaries owed to ASUU members, alongside unpaid arrears for promotions and the Earned Academic Allowance. He described the government’s actions as unjust, adding that these unresolved financial issues affect the morale and welfare of public university staff.

During the Heroes Day event, ASUU honored former members, celebrating their contributions to the union and their commitment to the advancement of public university education. Osodeke praised union members for their resilience and dedication, stating, “Your courageous comradeship and sacrifices forever resonate with the struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian public university education.”

In a show of support for academic development, ASUU announced that it will be awarding PhD research grants to select members from various public universities nationwide. Each recipient will receive N500,000, with selection based on the evaluation of research proposals by experts within the respective fields.

File Image Of ASUU President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke

Osodeke condemned the actions of certain state governments that continue to penalize ASUU members for standing up for the rights of public universities. “We stand firmly with our members in Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who face persecution for their principled stand in the struggle to protect the integrity of public university education,” he said.

The 2024 Heroes Day celebration recognized several ASUU icons, including Prof. T. Uzodinma Nwala, Prof. Bright Ekuerhare, and Prof. Oye Oyediran, among others, for their contributions to Nigeria’s public university system.

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