Babalola – ASUU is preventing the reopening of universities

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of preventing the reopening of universities in Nigeria.

He said that the union has been actively obstructive to the re-opening of universities in the country.

Babalola made his displeasure known over the decision of the Federal Government to not let final year students of tertiary institutions resume like their Primary Six, JSSIII and SSSIII counterparts.

He said that the decision can be attributed to the likely objection from the “Almighty” ASUU.

In a statement, he said that the directives of the government should have excluded private universities.

“I was not disappointed on the non-resumption of final year students of tertiary institutions, because I knew the reason why the government left out the final year students of University.

And I believe the Federal Government was aware that if it directed final year students of public universities to resume, the almighty ASUU would object and in this case, ASUU has objected.”

He also spoke about the “Almightiness” of ASUU from his seven-year experience as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos, UNILAG.

“Before I took over as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, even Council meetings could not take place unless ASUU and other Unions had been appeased or else such Council meetings would not be allowed to hold.

It was a serious matter at that time, but I successfully managed that”.

The former Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos urged the Federal Government to, treat with urgency, the insulate of private universities from the public ones.

According to him, “the future of this country in terms of functional and quality education lies with private universities”.

“Most private universities are reputed for their moral and physical discipline, quality and functional education, hygienic and safe environment, predictable academic calendar, absence of trade unionism, committed teachers, modern teaching equipment and laboratories, and adequate preparation to prevent COVID-19.

Indeed, no private university teacher would object to resumption of schools. Already, in the private universities of Nigeria, an Ivy League similar to that in America is emerging, to me, the top ranking private universities should be the mirror or the template for resumption of students because of the hygienic, safe environment and the undoubted discipline amongst students and teachers,” he said.