Buhari govt’s antics are to destroy public universities – ASUU chair

The chairman Academic Staff Union of University, University of Lagos chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s antics are to destroy public universities in Nigeria.

Ashiru made the observation on Friday during an interview on Daily Trust Twitter Space.

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On Monday the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) extended its ongoing warning strike by three months, a development that has sparked mixed reactions in many quarters, with students protesting to see the issue resolved.

Ashiru said it is the third time universities in the country would b closed since President Buhari came into power.

He said, “Since they came onto the saddle, our universities have been closed. This is the third time. And the shameful aspect is that while universities are close, they carry on with politics and politicking with a view to mortgaging the future of millions of Nigerians.

“But as a union of intellectuals, we understand the antics of government. And the antics are that public universities should be destroyed.

“Just like they have done to public primary and secondary schools so that their own private enterprise, their private universities, can now have enough students.

“And it will shock you to know that even as we are on this strike and people are clamouring that all should be done to bring the strike to a closure, the government is busy licensing private universities.

“And how many children of the poor can pay the crazy bills?  What we are saying and what Nigerians should see is that if not for our struggle, holding government accountable, getting them to forcefully fund public universities by now there will be nothing called public universities in Nigeria.”