Abia Governor Alex Otti advises university unionists to put on their thinking caps and stop begging governments for subventions.
“It is important that we put on our thinking cap and remove our begging cap because this whole idea of begging is the problem that we have in Nigeria.
Older universities should survive by looking for innovative ways to achieve financial independence, he said.
Otti said this while welcoming visiting branch executives of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from the Abia State University (ABSU).
The union executives came to thank the Governor for paying salaries promptly since he assumed office and also asked for more.
They asked Otti to offset their 11-month salary arrears, renegotiate staff salaries, and adjust government subvention to the university. They also begged for payment of their 18-month outstanding salary differential, and rehabilitation of the dilapidated the Okigwe-Uturu Road that leads to the institution.
The union noted that the salary arrears accumulated from 2022 while the differential went back to 2009-2010. The debts therefore predated Gov Otti’s administration, according to president of ASUU in ABSU, Dr. Chidi Mbah.
Otti replied that their requests were reasonable but nevertheless counselled the union to become more proactive and innovative.
Older universities should aim to run as independent institutions, free from government subvention, he said.
“It is important that we put on our thinking cap and remove our begging cap because this whole idea of begging is the problem that we have in Nigeria.
“Even as a country, we keep begging, we keep borrowing and we need to think of being financially independent.
“Even from research alone, if there is anything happening in the University, we should be able to generate enough resources to do a few things.
“We need to begin to think of how to make our Universities financially independent.
“Let us rechannel our ABSU ASUU to begin to think of how they can contribute to making the University independent, and I will support you.
“We need to think in that direction because it is more sustainable”.
The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU National (Calabar Zone), Dr. Happiness Uduak, led executives of ASUU in ABSU to the meeting.
She also commended Otti for promptly paying university staff salaries and other benefits, since assuming office in May 2023.
The Governor noted that ABSU has challenges and a lot is needed to fix the institution.
Abia State government would strive to make ABSU the envy of other tertiary institutions in the country, he said.
Otti promised to meet with ABSU management, strengthen corporate governance, set up a visitation panel, and review their the subvention.
Slug: Stop begging for subventions, Otti advises ASUU
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