A foremost educationist and former Registrar of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Alex Olu Ajayi, has blamed the ongoing nationwide strike embarked on by ASUU on the federal government’s insincerity and its low interest in education of Nigerians.
Ajayi, also ex-Registrar of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), urged Nigerians to rather blame the FG for not honouring its agreements with ASUU and for embarking on indiscriminate establishment of universities that the government is financial incapacitated to fund.
Ajayi spoke in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, while being conferred with the ‘Fellowship Award’ by All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPSS) Veterans , Ekiti chapter, led by its Chairman, Sir Lawrence Eegunjobi, to mark Ajayi’s 91st birthday.
Describing the closure of all Nigerian public universities as disheartening and portraying the FG as being insensitive, Ajayi said: “The federal government is to blame. It has allowed enthusiasm of establishing universities supersedes the reality of funding and what it can cope with. It has bitten more than it can chew.
“The federal government must understand that with proliferation of universities, there will be inadequacies, particularly funding. Anytime there is expansion, there is always deterioration if care is not taken and that is what we are experiencing in our universities.
“ASUU had made its points, but it should sheath its sword and listen to Nigerians and call off hoping that they will fight another day.”
★ Published by CAMPUS GIST
