ASUU condemns Edo, Bayelsa Governments

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has condemned the Edo and Bayelsa State governments for planning to establish new universities when they are not adequately funding existing ones.

The union’s position was made known by Christopher Piwuna, the chairman of the Jos chapter of the union, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

The new university in Edo State was announced by the immediate past government of Adams Oshiomhole while Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa is making plans for a new university for his state.

Mr. Piwuna said ASUU was “shocked and angry” that states that had not been able to fund their universities were establishing new ones.

He particularly criticised the Edo State Government for starting a new university when the state-owned Ambrose Alli University was being under-funded.

He also wondered why he Bayelsa State Government was working toward establishing an additional state university when it had not been able to meet its commitment to the Niger Delta University.

The ASUU official expressed the union’s readiness to work with stakeholders willing to shore up the fortunes of the educational sector, pointing out that the nation’s fortunes were tied to the sector’s growth.