There are insinuations that public universities may be shut again, as the academic staff union of universities ASUU meet this weekend over alleged plot to frustrate the release of N300 billion university revitalisation fund.
Although Industrial actions that have crippled academic activities in the nation’s public universities are not new, what is disturbing however is a plot allegedly hatched by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, in cahoots with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to frustrate the release of about N300 billion University Revitalisation Fund.
This may once again lead to classrooms in Nigeria’s ivory towers to be under lock and key, following a subtle threat by the Academic Staff union of universities, ASUU to down tools over the alleged plot by the Office of the accountant genetal of the federation, OAGF to withold the release of N300 billion revitalisation fund.
ait.live leanrt from a source in the accountant general’s office that officials are insisting on fresh presidential approval to release funds to the universities across the country.
ait.live also gathered that at a recent meeting between the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa the Accountant general, and the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, as well as other officials of the government it was agreed that the N300 Billion captured in the 2023 appropriation Act but was not released should be rolled – over to this year.
ait.live found out that a letter signed by the Minister of Education and addressed to the Accountant General requesting that the money be rolled over to 2025 has already been dispatched, but our source inside the accountant general’s office said the letter is meant to placate ASUU in believing that the government is serious about the release of the revitalization fund.
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The source confirmed that the content of the letter indicated that the Minister of Education expressed concern over the issue and the need to avert industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Meanwhile, I spoke with the ASUU President on phone and he confirmed the development and said the issue is serious enough to warrant industrial action, that is why an ASUU officials’ meeting has been schedule for this weekend to take a decision on the matter which has dragged for two years.
ASUU is already threatening to boycott subsequent meetings if previous agreements are not honoured as it expressed strong concerns for an envelop budgetary system.
In 2009, the Federal Government reached an agreement with ASUU for the provision of 1.3 trillion naira on annual tranches of N220 billion over a period of 5 years as intervention funds for the revitalization of universities.
A review of the agreement was done in 2014. However, it is yet to be implemented, resulting in several industrial actions by ASUU, distorting the academic calendar in the ivory tower.
In an effort to get more reaction from officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, ait.live gathered that they are making frantic moves to prevent any form of strike under the Tinubu-led government.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
