"SOME EXECUTIVE MEMBERS ARE PAID JUMBO SALARIES BUT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY" -FORMER ASUU MEMBER

(ASUU) is critical for the progress and development of Nigeria, a former chairman of the Union at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Prof Aloysius Okolie, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka, Enugu State on Friday. He also called the FG no to allow a total collapse of tertiary education in the country.

Prof. Okolie argued no country had attained desired economic and technological development without adequate investments into the education sector.

"How will the country be able to achieve its vision 20:2020 of being among the 20 leading economies if the education sector is not well-funded,'' Prof. Okolie asked rhetorically.

He also stated that it seemed the FG had money but they are misused:

"The National Assembly and some executive members are paid jumbo salaries but when it comes to education funding the government has no money."

The former chairman called on to understand the needs of students, saying the union's demand was to ensure quality teaching and learning in the universities.

"It is unreliable that in some universities student receive lectures under the trees and in stadium. "Books, laboratory equipment in our libraries and laboratories are outdated while some politicians and government officials are wasting money in building houses in every state capital and buying fleets of exotic cars."

He also stressed that ASUU was not making a fresh demand but for the FG to implement the agreement it signed with the union in 2009.

ASUU is scheduled to continue its negotiation with the federal government on Monday. Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue, who chairs the universities needs assessment committee, had told journalists that both parties had rescheduled their negotiations for August 19.

ASUU has been on a indefinite strike nationwide since 1 July 2013. The Union stated that the FG has not been following the law that entered into force in 2009 that guarantees a N12,500 monthly allowance to each lecturer. The conflict escalated when on Tuesday, 13 August, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,said the government simply has no resources to meet the union demands.