ASUU Demands: Minister's Family Must School in Nigeria

By Alao Blessing

Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), representing the academic body in Nigeria has spoken on his stance regarding the educational sector of the country.

He emphasises that those appointed as council members should be capable of impact in the positions they occupy.

Admonishing the new Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, he says: “Such a minister should be somebody who knows what a university is and who knows what education is.”

“Two, he should be somebody who has the interest of Nigerian pupils, young boys and girls, at heart.”

“Three, the person should be somebody who has his family in the Nigerian university system, secondary and primary schools, not somebody whose children are outside the country studying…”

In analysing the problems of the sector, he explains that “…Those who run the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, all their children are studying abroad. So, they don’t care what is happening here and the implication is very clear.

“While our lecturers are rushing out of the country, no lecturer from anywhere, even West Africa, wants to come to Nigeria….”

Conclusively, he advises that in future when council members are to be appointed they should be people who have an impact. People who can, In his words “…Source for funds for the system and not to come and collect the little you have in the system.”