The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) on Saturday urged the Federal Government to rescind its proposal to stop allocation of Tertiary Education Funds (Tetfunds) to Nigerian universities.
This was part of the resolutions made after the 3-day 2nd National Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by the Kwara State University, Malete.
The National Coordinator of CONUA, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, told newsmen that the proposal to withdraw grants from universities due to alleged abuse would rather affect the nation’s education negatively.
Sunmonu said instead of the wholesome stigmatisation of all academics, the government should identify the culprits and bring them to justice.
”CONUA condemns the wholesome stigmatisation of all academics on the abuse of research grants and we urge the government to make efforts at identifying the causes of abuse and those connected to it should be brought to justice, if established.
”This will serve as a deterrent to others instead of the entire castigation of all well-meaning and hardworking academics in the country.
”And if the stories been read in the papers are anything to go by, we condemn the proposal to stop these funds due to the allegations above.
”This is because it will make the country retrogress as no nation can survive without research and research can’t be done without grants,” Sunmonu said.
On the issue of enrolment of lecturers on IPPIS, Dr Sunmonu of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, urged the government to provide seamless opportunities for members to still enrol on the platform.
”We want the government to provide seamless opportunities for members that were not able to enrol before due to one reason or the other to do so, so as not to miss capturing.
”Although this does not mean we are happy with the delay in the February salary of our members of staff even as the new month enters its seventh day today.
”We are confident that the delay was not as a result of enrollment, as our members were directed in November 2019 to enrol which they did.
”So, we welcome being captured in the new payment system, we just want to hope that the government will take care of all peculiarities earlier agreed on and take it on board in effecting the payment.
”As we await February salary, we appeal to the government to implement the minimum wage to academics without delay as done to other government workers,” he said.
The CONUA National Coordinator added that the congress was still reviewing the ongoing review of labour laws and hoped to make presentations at the National Assembly during the public hearing on the proposed bills.
He, however, urged the government to provide an enabling environment for Nigerian Academics to achieve their potentials.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had in attendance members from eight out of nine member institutions.
NAN recalls that the 1st stakeholders meeting held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 with five member institutions.