Borrow money to pay ASUU, Adebanjo urges FG

A chief of the Yoruba socio-political
organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Ayo Adebanjo, has said if necessary, the Federal Government
should borrow money to meet the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities .
Speaking with our correspondent on Friday on
the telephone, Adebanjo stated that the strike
action was tantamount to gambling with the
future of students because of FG’s failure to
implement the agreement it entered with the
union in 2009.
Adebanjo said, ‘‘If it means borrowing money
to sanitise the university system, the Federal
Government should do it. What the people
(ASUU) are saying is that the strike is not only
about money but to revive the nation’s
university education to make it world class.
Whatever it will cost the government to stop
the strike, it must do it. We should not gamble
with the future of our future leaders.’’
He also stated that it was wrong for the FG to
ask for a fresh negotiation from the union
when it had yet to fulfil the one it made.
According to him, it was doubtfull if the
government would fulfil any new agreement
when the one it made earlier is yet to be
implemented.
He said, ‘‘For you (government) to tell them to
come and renegotiate after you failed to
implement the agreement you made with them
in 2009 is not right. Things are not done that
way. How are we sure you will fulfil the terms
of any new agreement you make with the
union?’’
Besides, Adebanjo said one of the things the
government could do was to channel its efforts
towards reviving university education as the
nation observes its 53 years of independence
next month.
ASUU embarked on strike since July 1 to
protest the non-implementation of the key
issues contained in the 2009 agreement it
made with the FG.