ASUU Accuses World Bank, IMF of Undermining Education
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) of actively undermining Nigeria’s public education system.
The claim was made as the union expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in renegotiating its 2009 agreement with the federal government. Despite multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs), ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented that the agreement remains unsigned, further exacerbating tensions within the sector.
Speaking at ASUU’s Heroes Day 2024-2025 ceremony in Abuja, Prof. Osodeke also voiced strong opposition to the enforced Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), alongside grievances about the withholding of ASUU members’ salaries for over three months.
“The delay in signing our agreement and the continued hardships faced by our members are disheartening,” said Osodeke. “We are not just fighting for our members, but for the future of Nigeria’s public universities.”
The union also announced the distribution of Ph.D. grants worth N500,000 each to selected members, following a rigorous proposal evaluation process. Prof. Osodeke commended the resilience of ASUU members, particularly those enduring hardships at institutions such as Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The Heroes Day event honoured both past and current members for their contributions to the betterment of public education. Prof. Osodeke paid tribute to the late Prof. Festus Iyayi, a former ASUU president, and others who played pivotal roles in ASUU’s ongoing mission to defend and improve the nation’s educational system.
