Dr. Tunde Olagunjembi, a lecturer at the University of Jos and research fellow at the Institute of Project Management Jos, has urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the prompt release of funds for the continuation of vital projects in institutions being carried out under the intervention funds for the revitalisation of universities.
2009 saw the Federal Government and ASUU come to an agreement for the annual provision of N220 billion in intervention funds for the needs assessment program, which aims to revitalize universities throughout the nation.
The don claimed in a statement he signed on Monday that the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ strike was sparked by the previous administration’s failure to provide funding for the project.
“If the government continued to show a look-warm attitude towards the implementation of the agreement reached with ASUU on the intervention funds for needs assessment among others, the various unions would have no choice but to act appropriately in the interest of the public universities.”
Therefore, I urge the President—whom he acknowledged as having made important remarks regarding the reform of the education sector—to approve funding for the initiatives aimed at guaranteeing a reliable and excellent learning environment in the educational institutions.
In the interest of the growth of the Nigerian university system, he did, however, implore the president to maintain the Needs Assessment Scheme.