Group commends ASUU over strike, decries FG’s attitude towards education

• Delta monarch seeks re-grouping of existing facilities for DELSU campus
• UNIUYO VC urges leaders to be role model

The United Action for Democracy (UAD), a civil society body, has hailed the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for declaring an indefinite strike on the refusal of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 and 2013 agreements.

The group also berated the Buhari/APC government for dropping the allocation in the 2016 budget for the education sector from eight per cent to five per cent, and in the current budget, only five per cent is allocated to education.

In a statement yesterday signed by its convener, Gabriel Ojumah, the group said: “We in UAD believes that the battle is not for ASUU alone. All Nigerians and lovers of real change should join in fighting for the soul of education. We must all insist that the allocation to education as in the 2017 budget, must be massively increased to at least 26 per cent.”

In another development, the Asagba of Asaba in Delta State, Prof. Chike Edozien, has sought re-grouping of existing facilities for the Delta State University Awai Campus to form a college that would be headed by a provost.

The monarch, who spoke yesterday with journalists in Asaba through the Iyase of Asaba, Chief Patrick Isioma Onyeobi, also urged the reinstatement of town and gown meetings put on hold over the years.

Edozien, who recalled that the edict establishing DELSU that Delta North Senatorial District would play host to Asaba campus of the university with three faculties: the Faculty of Agriculture, Management Sciences and Environmental Science, regretted that the Faculty of Environmental Studies was yet to take off after 25 years of the institution’s existence.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof. Enefiok Essien (SAN), has advised those in position of responsibility to see themselves as role model for the younger generation.

According to him, exhibiting such qualities as commitment, determination, perseverance and accountability would influence those looking onto them to emulate.

He made these assertions during the grand reception for the Registrar, UNIUYO, Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia, by the people of Nist Ibom Local Council of Akwa Ibom State.