May 05, (THEWILL) – A University lecturer, Dr Clement Obadimu, has blamed the Federal Government’s inability to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on misplaced priorities.
Obadimu, a lecturer offering voluntary services at the Institute of Safety, Health, Security and Environmental Studies, University of Uyo, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, said the federal government has prioritised certain things above ASUU’s problems.
The Don spoke on Wednesday, at De’ Castle hotels in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, while fielding questions from selected journalists.
The lecturer slammed government functionaries for purchasing outrageous nomination forms for as much as N100m, saying that such display of wealth is out of place, given the fact that the federal government has been unable to meet the demands of ASUU to continue academic exercise in the country.
The Varsity Don, who said he is not speaking for ASUU because he is not their member, added that he is not sure that what the lecturers are demanding is beyond the scope of the federal government.
“The federal government may say that there are so many things to do, but at the same time the government cannot say that they cannot solve the ASUU problem. I am not speaking for ASUU, I am not a member of ASUU because I teach in voluntary services, but the government should be able to solve ASUU problems.
“There are many issues of misplaced priorities; there are certain things the government is putting too important to be compared with ASUU’s demands. This is the challenge they (FG) are having and ASUU know, for information that, if the federal government is doing one thing or the other, why is it difficult for them to meet their demands.”
However, he called on private organisations and individuals across the country to join hands with the federal government and salvage the situation to enable students to return to classrooms.
“Government may say that there are too many things to do, the private individuals and organisations can team up and say let us see what we can do. I know private individuals abroad normally come together to salvage situations like that”, he maintained.
On what motivated him to venture into lecturing on voluntary services, the lecturer said such is his little contribution to give back to the society, adding that “there is nothing that gives fulfilment than giving back to the society.
He added “I am a worker, I work for a company and to the glory of God, I think I’m satisfied with what I am doing. Now that I’m content with whatever, let me see what I can give back to society. So, what motivated me is that i want to give back to the society”
