FG has no vision for education – ASUU Chair

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, Kogi State University Chapter,
Sylvester Osakwe Ukwuteno, has said that
the ongoing strike by the union will
continue because the Federal Government
has not strengthened its vision for the
sector.
Ukwuteno who spoke with Vanguard
Learning via telephone interview, explained
that if there are plans for the sector,
government would have speedily concurred
with the plea to innovate the sector being
pursued by the union, adding that the
pursuit of the union is to ensure that the
country meets up with the international
standard of education.
“We hope this would be the last strike that
will surface on this particular discourse,
hopefully if the government cares for
education because we will not budge until
our demands are met. The much emphasis
of ‘no money syndrome’ is all lies as the
president could convey over 300 entourage
including himself, to China coupled with
their allowances, welfare and other
incentives, they should tell Nigerians where
the money is coming from.
“The quest is not money motivated as
speculated, but to ensure that facilities and
other necessary equipment needed to
update the students are made scalable for
effective learning. Universities are currently
operating with little or no equipment in the
labs, making the labs non-functional for
practicals, thereby sterilizing what is
supposed to be practically inclined.
“It took Ghana a year and some months
strike before the government came to their
senses and the outcome is currently
obvious, we would do even more till our
request is granted.”
He therefore urged the public to join in the
struggle by mounting pressure on the
government to hasten up in its decisions
because the students are the casualties
now, but will be the benefactors if eventually
granted.