Contrary to the renewed hope mantra of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration, the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has said that Nigeria has been plunged into ‘hopeless state’ as a result of corruption and bad governance.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said this on Thursday at the 2024 Edition of ASUU State of the Nation Conference held in Abuja.
According to him, the Conference with the theme ‘Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development’ was convened to address the present hopeless state of the country as part of the ASUU’s patriotic contribution towards recovering the country back to the Nigerian people.
Osodeke warned that the present foreign-controlled governance system that only serves the interest of few predators, primitive accumulators and foreign organizations needs to be changed.
He said as the nation celebrates its 64th independence anniversary and looking back, “it is sad to note that the situation is worse off today when compared to 1984”.
ASUU President lamented that Nigeria is too rich for Nigerians to languish in excruciating poverty, saying the common patrimony must be used for the common good.
He insisted that Nigerians must be rescued from all exploiters and oppressors whether they are Nigerians or foreigners, saying was the agenda for the National Conference.
He recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities was formed from the National Association of University Teachers in 1978.
He added that the objectives of the Union extend beyond the pursuit of the conditions of service and welfare of its members to include the “protection and advancement of the socio-economic and cultural interest of the nation”
He said it was in pursuit of the above objectives that ASUU has over the years been organizing periodic National Conferences to generate ideas on how to provide a governance system that would cater for the interests of Nigerian people.
“I believe that with the selected speakers and participants, we should be able to generate outcomes that will rescue Nigeria from the stronghold of foreign intruders and imperialist exploiters,” he said.
He said: “The first of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ State of the Nation Conferences held in April, 1984 at the University of Benin, Benin City with the theme: “The State of the Nigerian Economy”.
“The conference held at a time of grave economic crises. The crises were characterized by chronic shortages of essential goods and services, collapse of infrastructure and services, grand corruption, stealing, mass unemployment, high inflation rates, etc.
“The 1984 ASUU National Conference identified the following as the roots of the crises; incorporation of Nigeria into international capitalist system by the colonial imperialists.
“Nigeria’s dependent and weak position within a declining and crises-ridden world capitalist system and the exploration and control of Nigeria’s resources by foreign firms.
“Presence of a local petty and comprador exploiting class, whose members aid the foreign firms to steal Nigeria wealth and transfer same abroad.
“Government repression and oppression of Nigerian workers through decrees, policies and suffocating taxation without representation
“Stealing on a massive scale by foreign and national contractors, politicians, bureaucrats, middlemen, distributors and agents who do not contribute to production.
“As the Nation celebrates its 64″ anniversary and looking back, it is sad to note that the situation is worse off today when compared to 1984,” he stated.
He noted that if the Government then had implemented the resolution of the 1984 conference, the situation today would not have arisen.
Speaker of House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented at the event, acknowledged the critical role being played by ASUU in shaping Nigeria’s educational landscape and advocating for policies that promote academic excellence and social requity.
He said through relentless campaigns for improved funding for universities, better working conditions for academic staff, and enhanced welfare for students, ASUU has not only championed the cause of educators but has also laid down a foundation for sustainable national development.
