*says pay salaries arrears with bank loan
*constitute committee of high calibre patriotic Nigerians for dialogue
*suggests cutting pay of NASS members
*says ASUU strike constitutional, legitimate
*warns of possible revolt by students
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has on Thursday, added weight to the calls by concerned Nigerians for President Muhammadu Buhari as a matter of urgency, to borrow money from abroad or commercial lenders to pay Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) their outstanding eight months salaries in the overall national interest, peace, progress and stability of the nation.
He also advised the federal government to constitute a high powered standing committee that will comprise of Nigerian elite, elder statesmen, experienced and highly respected renowned academia of high calibre, integrity, patriotism and dignity to meet with the ASUU leadership to reconcile the lingering burning issue between the federal government once and for all.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday at his residence in Maiduguri in an interactive session, Ndume said, “the main teething problem in this country today which has been lingering for long without solution despite the concerns of many Nigerians, especially parents and guardians, that their children are in public schools, is that of ASUU strike.”
The federal lawmaker noted also that the federal government is relying on public servants whose children are already schooling abroad not in Nigerian universities, to mediate in the ASUU impasse.
“There is the urgent need for the President to constitute a high powered committed that will comprise of high calibre, integrity, dignity, honourable and respected Nigerians who are elite and elder statesmen, along with experienced and respected renowned educationists to meet with the union leaders to address the lingering ASUU strike.
“In fact, we the parents and guardians are more worried about it as government has been using senior public servants whose children have been schooling abroad to dialogue with the union leaders, which has always ended in cul de sac, without any positive outcome.
“You cannot use a person or people that their children are.already schooling abroad or in private universities in Nigeria, to address or handle issues surrounding public universities, where only children of junior or poor public servants go to study.
“They will not be bordered whether the lecturers return to class or not and our children will continue to stay at home doing nothing and wasting months and years at home without jobs or doing anything. So, let them finish their schooling and get their certificates as such, even without employment or place to work. Education is vital in the society.
“Even the middle level public servant today cannot afford private school for his or her children, talk more of private polytechnic or university in Nigeria. Things are difficult and expensive. Therefore, the public schools should be prioritized by the federal government even if it will warrant enacting a law for compulsory public schooling in Nigeria
“Another important thing also is for the federal government to consider borrowing money even from abroad or bank up to one trillion Naira to settle all outstanding salaries and allowances of the university lecturers and even improve on them. Hence, an assistant Lecturer In a University in Nigeria today gets about N130,000 only salary per month and government is saying it is going to pay them half salary.
“Imagine that! Where will a family man or husband do with N63,000 to take care of his family in a month at this crucial and material time when our currency has no value compared to Dollar and Pound Sterlings. Let us develop and standardize our public schools and give our children quality education as future leaders of the country.
“If we don’t do it now, we may be unable to do it in the nearest future as things are going. Education is valuable and essential anywhere even abroad. This will go a long way in improving the educational status of both our university lecturers and institutions of learning..
“We can’t afford to be baking un-ripe graduates or quacks as graduates or unqualified lecturers in universities teaching our children. Everything has to be standardized, prioritized and developed,” Ndume said.
The federal lawmaker further explained that, “even if it will warrant the National Assembly reducing their sitting allowances or paying themselves in casual allowances basis whenever they sit at the lower and upper chambers, by cutting the recurrent expenditure in the budget of the federal lawmakers to settle the ASUU arrears, let there be in the overall national interest of Nigerians and Nigeria.”
“I was a lecturer in polytechnic before I became a politician and I have been at the National Assembly now for 20 years. All what I know is that every year our annual budget is about N 1 billion but for this year it was increased to about N 1.3 billion.
“We only assemble twice or so per week and get paid as such. Same thing civil servants were staying at home working during the COVID-19 pandemic and they were being paid monthly their salaries and allowances. So, why the federal government will cut off 50% or half of the university lecturers salary because they went on legitimate strike action which is constitutional fighting for their rights and privileges?” Ndume queried.
He therefore l, suggested that, “the issue of ASUU and education in Nigeria should be a priority of the federal government in the general interest of Nigerians, if not, in the future, the situation may not be controllable .
“When the young school children will boldly stand up for their rights and revolt to.seek for justice to their lecturers and themselves from the federal government when it is borrowing about N 8 trillion for just recurrent expenditure where ASUU total demands is not.more than N 1 trillion,” the federal lawmaker said.
