We’ll not allow FG to introduce tuition fees in varsities — OAU ASUU  Chairman

Jeleel Olawale

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife branch, Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, has declared that the union would always stand against Federal Government or university authority to charge tuition fee in Nigerian universities.

Egbedokun made this known in a phone conversation with Nigerian NewsDirect in Ile Ife on the extension of ongoing ASUU strike.

He said, introducing tuition fee is an attempt to send many children of the poor out of the universities in the country, saying that government does not have moral right to charge fee because present political office holders are product of free education.

The ASUU Chairman noted that if they paid tuition fee during their time, will they be where they are today? Some Vice- Chancellors are suggesting to Federal Government to introduce tuition fee in Nigerian universities, can their salary of  416,000 per month measure it when they leave office as Vice-Chancellors, Egbedokun asked.

According to him, “The children of the poor masses whose parents are incapable of paying little charges universities are charging today, not to talk of paying tuition fee. Some lecturers are presently soliciting for fund for those students whose parents could not pay the current charges being charged by university especially OAU but these students are brilliant.”

“The minimum wage being paid by governments could not take the working class to anywhere. If we are actually paying tuition fee, how many parents could afford it?

They should stop parading statistics of comparing foreign universities to Nigerian universities in terms of charging tuition fee. There is no good environment to do so because no good economy to support charging fee. Government should provide basic amenities, robust economy before they could start charging fee.

What the governments are trying to do is to destroy university education just like they do to primary and secondary school education.”

Speaking on propaganda against the ASUU by Federal Government, Egbedokun said, ASUU did not ask for money from Federal Government but pay rise on salary which is the legitimate right of university workers in a sane land.

“We are entitled to increment in salary and our salary is meagre campare to salaries of political functionaries in the country. Imagine a senior lecturer is receiving about  250,000 as monthly salary since 2009 and no pay rise since then. This is our right, we demand for good welfare condition and revitalisation of university education before it collapse.

ASUU is asking Federal Government to fund tertiary education rather, they are misinforming the public on ASUU demands. The government is so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. We are asking for fund to be made available for the revitalisation of university education.

This fund is not going into ASUU’s account but the university account for the revitalisation of university education. The Minister of labour, Dr Christ Ngige and Festus Keyamo are misleading the public on the demands of ASUU but they are uneducated on the demands of ASUU.”

Egbedokun stressed that negotiation has been completed and document submitted to the Minister of education, Mallam Adamu Adamu which we think should have been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for further directive either to review or reject.

He added that the Federal Government will communicate Nimi Brigg’s committee and ASUU to meet and call for a meeting to resolve. If they want to end the strike today, they can do it. But their priority is not education.

“Education is not the priority of the government but politics which is recking havoc on the nation. Political office holders are dealers and lack capacity to govern us.”