By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District,, Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to source for bank loans to pay the outstanding 8 months salaries of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).
He also advised the federal government to constitute a high powered standing committee that will meet with ASUU leadership to reconcile the lingering burning issues.
Senator Ndume stated this on Thursday during an interactive session with journalists in Maiduguri.
He said ,” the main teething problem in this country today which has been lingering for longer without solution despite the concern of many Nigerians especially parents and guardians that their children are in public schools is that of ASUU strike .
” There is the urgent need for the President to constitute a high powered committed that will comprise of high Calibre, integrity, dignity, honour and respect Nigerians who are elites and elder statesmen along with experienced and respected renowned educationists to meet with the union leaders to address the lingering ASUU strike.
“In fact, we the parents and guardians are more worried about it as government has been using senior public servants, whose children have been schooling abroad to dialogue with the union leaders which has always ended in cul-de-sac without any positive outcome.
“You can not use a person or people that their children are.already schooling abroad or in private universities in Nigeria to address or handle issues surrounding public universities where only children of junior or poor public servants go to study.
“They will not be bordered whether the lecturers return to class or not and our children will continue to stay and be doing nothing and wasting months and years at home without jobs or doing anything. So, let them finish their schooling and get their certificates as such even without employment or place to work. Education is vital in the society.
“Even the middle level public servant today can not afford private school for his or her children talk more of private polytechnic or University in Nigeria. Things are difficult and expensive. Therefore, the public schools should be prioritize by the federal government even if it will warrant the federal government enacting a law for compulsory Public schooling in Nigeria
“Another important thing also is for the federal government to consider borrowing money even from abroad or bank up to one trillion naira to settle all outstanding salaries and allowances the university lecturers and even improve on them. Presently, an assistant lecturer in a University in Nigeria today gets about N130,000 only salary per month and government is saying it is going to pay them half salary.
” Imagine that. Where will a family man or husband honor so with N63,000 to take care of his family in a month at this crucial and material time where our currency has no value compare to dollars and pound sterlings. Let us develop and standardize our public schools and give our children quality education as future leaders of the country.
“If we don’t do it now, we may be unable to do it in the nearest future as things are going. Education is valuable and essential anywhere even abroad. This will go a long way in improving the educational status of both our university lecturers and institutions of learning..
“We can’t afford to be baking un-riped graduates or quacks as graduates or unqualified lecturers in universities teaching our children. Everything has to be standardized, prioritized and developed,” Ndume said.
The federal lawmaker further explained that: “Even if it will warrant the National Assembly to reduce their sitting allowances or paying themselves in casual allowances basis whenever they sit at the Lowe and upper chambers by cutting the recurrent expenditure in the budget of the federal lawmakers to settle the ASUU arrears, let it be in the overall national interest of Nigerians and Nigeria.”
“I was a lecturer in polytechnic before I became a politician and I have been at the National Assembly now for 20 years. All what I know is that every year our annual budget is about N 1 billion but for this year it was increased to about N 1.3 billion.
“We only assemble twice or so per week and get paid as such. Same was applicable to civil servants working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic and they were being paid monthly their salaries and allowances. So, why we the federal government will cut off 50% or half of the university lecturers salary because they went on legitimate strike action which is constitutional fighting for their rights and privileges ,” Ndume added
He therefore suggested that,” the issue of ASUU and education in Nigeria should be a priority of the federal government in the general interest of Nigerians , if not, in future, the situation may not be controllable .
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