The Pro-Chancellor of Ekiti State
University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti Prof Jide Osuntokun has condemned the
ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
describing it as destructive and retrogressive for the university
system.
In an interview at the special prayers
and thanksgiving organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God,
Throne of Grace, headquarters, Lagos, he said: “I am totally against the
strike as it has destroyed the university system in Nigeria. People no
longer respect our degrees outside the country because we always go on
strike.”
He noted that the strike is not fair on
parents who spend their fortunes sponsoring their wards for a four-year
course only for them to end up spending eight to 10 years in school
because of strike.
“ASUU can negotiate for better salary
and reward without going on strike at the least excuse because the
students and the parents are often the victims,” he said.
He said dialogue and negotiations
between the lecturers and federal government on their salaries and other
issues would provide lasting solution to the miriads of problem
bedeviling the university system than the incessant strikes.
Osuntokun asserted that it is very
disheartening for lecturers to be comparing themselves with the law
makers who earn N24 million per month because teaching is a divine
calling.
He also appealed to the federal
government to stop the creation of the new nine federal universities
which according to him ‘is only borne out of politics in the educational
sector’
“I do not support the creation of nine
federal universities because the existing institutions lack the basis
infrastructure and know how that can match up with the best university
in the world,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment