By Muhammed Akindele
The Yola Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the establishment of nine newly approved universities until existing institutions are adequately funded, staffed, and equipped.
The Zonal Coordinator, Dani Mamman, issued the warning at a press conference held on Monday at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State. He said the move to create new universities amounted to “a continuation of the systematic destruction of Nigeria’s higher education system.”
Mamman, who was represented by Dr. Mbave Joshua, Chairman of the Taraba State University chapter, noted that the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement focused on revitalising existing universities through sustainable funding. Instead, he lamented, successive administrations have prioritised expansion without capacity, leaving students in dilapidated classrooms and obsolete laboratories.
The union also rejected the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing it as a “debt trap loan” that would worsen the financial hardship of its members.
“Our members are already burdened by multiple loans due to poor wages and unpaid entitlements. Rather than address the root cause of financial distress, government is offering a cosmetic loan scheme that deepens economic slavery,” Mamman said.
The Yola Zone, which comprises Adamawa State University, Mubi; Federal University, Gashua; Modibbo Adama University, Yola; Taraba State University, Jalingo; University of Maiduguri; and Yobe State University, Damaturu, warned that failure to meet its demands could trigger industrial action.
