By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos–
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has outrightly rejected the proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing it as a “poison chalice” and a bait designed to entrap its members.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the Congress of the University of Jos chapter, the National President of the union, Professor Christopher Piwuna, stated that the union would not support the move, especially the suggestion that ASUU should write letters enabling members to access the loan. He noted that many members were already overwhelmed by debts.
“What we need now is for the government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on debts from cooperative societies.
“We considered it a poison chalice and redirected members to ask our employers, the Governing Councils, through Vice Chancellors, to ‘guarantee’ the loan.
“It is needless to add that this government still owes our members 3½ months’ salaries for work done. The government should use the money set aside for the loans to defray our withheld salaries. Members are advised to stay away from the loan and focus on our legitimate entitlements because it is a bait,” he said.
Professor Piwuna, further, warned that embracing the loan scheme would cripple university-based cooperative societies and plunge members into prolonged hardship.
“The obvious implication is that after deducting the union dues, NHIS, pension contribution, and maybe cooperative deductions, nothing would be left for family. How can the government ask us to take a loan to pay for our health and pay for the school fees of our children?” he asked.
While criticizing the TISSF, the ASUU president commended the federal government’s decision to place a moratorium on the establishment of new universities — a position the union has long supported.
However, he expressed concern over the simultaneous licensing of new private institutions.
“ASUU also watched in awe as the Federal Government announced the 7-year moratorium; they proceeded to announce the establishment of nine (9) new private universities. If we agree that access is no longer an issue, why is the NUC giving more licenses to private universities? While ASUU acknowledges the rights of private individuals to establish universities, education must be tightly controlled to ensure quality.
“Government must, therefore, promote quality education and shun profiteering in the education sector. We have 72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private universities, bringing it to a total of 339 universities, giving each state and the FCT an average of 9 universities, excluding polytechnics/colleges of education.
“So why not place a moratorium on both public and private? Past and present administrations must cover their faces in shame for this scandalous proliferation of universities. Though commendable, there is a need to go further. Failure to do this will continue to erase our universities from world rankings. University administrations and the regulatory agency (NUC) must equally share in the blame for the wrong staff mix highlighted in the minister’s pronouncement,” he said.
