The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has expressed concern over the widespread resignation of academics from the country’s universities in favor of better opportunities abroad as the ASUU strike drags on.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Emmanuel noted that many academics are now working in farming and other economic activities while a significant number have left the nation when he spoke with Newsmen on Sunday.
The union president claimed that many of its members were compelled to look for alternative forms of employment as a result of the Federal Government’s failure to comply with certain of their requests, such as paying the seven-month salary backlog accrued during the strike.
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Osodeke expressed concern for the country, stressing that the FG believes it is punishing lecturers but the action is to the detriment of Nigeria.
He: “So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too.
‘’I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it. Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed.”
Osodeke’s statements were supported by the ASUU Chairman of the University of Lagos branch, Dele Ashiru, who revealed that more than 70% of the best minds that were retained had departed the nation.
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In an interview with Arise TV, Ashiru claimed that no government in the nation’s history had ever treated its brightest citizens with such disregard and callousness.
He said: “The impact of the government’s insensitivity and deployment of the weapon of hunger might not be immediately known until after the strike. As I speak with you, more than 70 per cent of bright and promising young academics retained by the university through mentorship have all left the country for greener pastures due to the poor conditions of service in Nigeria.
‘’Those that are left are on the verge of leaving. No government in the history of Nigeria has been so insensitive, brash and disrespectful of the best brains in the country. This is unfortunate and a shame.
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“ASUU is a union of intellectuals, we don’t look at what others do to make our decisions. We make our decisions based on verifiable facts and the facts available to us have not shown this government to be a responsible and sensible one.”
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