Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of the Academic Union of Universities ASUU, has stated that the government should have used the $23 million Abacha loot to meet the demands of the striking lecturers so students can return to school.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year. The striking lecturers are seeking improved welfare, revitalization of public universities, and academic autonomy among other demands.
One bone of contention for the lecturers is the non-payment of university revitalization funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion. The Federal Government has however said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
In an interview with Channels TV, Osodeke opined that if the Federal government was sincere, it would have used the $23 million Abacha loot the US government recently returned, to meet the demands of the striking lecturers.
”Let us take a typical man. You have a house and your child is seriously sick and you were paid money that you were not expecting, where would you put the money? That child will be the first thing you will treat. Is it not? Before you start thinking of how you are going to buy clothes.
Your universities have been shut for six months. You said no funds. Now a fund you were not expecting came. Where should you if you really love education put the money? But you are seeing how the country is going. And you say you don’t have money.” he said
Watch a video of him speaking below…
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