ASUU Yola Zone Calls for Halt on New Universities Pending Adequate Support for Existing Institutions
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Yola Zone has urged the federal government to suspend the establishment of nine newly approved universities until sufficient funding, infrastructure, and staffing are provided to the current universities. This appeal highlights concerns over the sustainability and quality of Nigeria’s higher education system.
Warning of Potential Industrial Action
ASUU has issued a stern warning that failure to meet these demands could trigger industrial action. The union’s Yola Zonal Coordinator, Dani Mamman, voiced these concerns during a press briefing at Modibbo Adama University in Yola, Adamawa State, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention.
Critique of Expansion Without Capacity Building
Mamman criticized the government’s recent approval of new universities, describing it as a continuation of the gradual deterioration of Nigeria’s university-countries/” title=”Discover the Two Countries in the World Without a …!”>tertiary education. He referenced the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, which prioritized revitalizing existing universities through sustainable funding. However, successive administrations have instead focused on expansion without addressing fundamental capacity issues, resulting in students attending classes in dilapidated lecture halls and outdated laboratories.
Rejection of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF)
Represented by Dr. Mbave Joshua, Chairman of the Taraba State University chapter, the Yola Zone members were instructed to reject the recently introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF). The union described this initiative as a “debt trap” that would further burden academic staff already struggling with low salaries and unpaid benefits.
“Our members are overwhelmed by multiple loans due to inadequate wages and delayed entitlements,” Dr. Joshua stated. “Instead of tackling the root causes of financial hardship, the government is offering a superficial loan scheme that deepens economic dependency.”
Universities Represented and Call for Government Accountability
The Yola Zone encompasses several institutions, including Adamawa State University (ADSU) in Mubi, Federal University Gashua (FUGA), Modibbo Adama University (MAU) in Yola, Taraba State University (TSU) in Jalingo, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), and Yobe State University (YSU) in Damaturu. The union has urged the federal government to honor previous agreements aimed at improving university conditions or face the consequences of renewed industrial actions.
Context and Broader Implications
With Nigeria’s higher education sector facing chronic underfunding-recent UNESCO data indicates that less than 10% of the national education budget is allocated to tertiary institutions-the ASUU’s concerns reflect a broader crisis. The union’s stance underscores the need for strategic investment in existing universities to enhance academic standards and infrastructure before expanding the system further.
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