The immediate-past National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke has said that the union under his leadership fought several battles to keep education alive during the administration of former President, Mohammadu Buhari and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

 

According to him, Ngige’s rough relationship with ASUU created a lot of confusion in the country which he said, would have collapsed the education system if not for ASUU’s resilience.

 

Professor Osodeke said this on Monday during a reception ceremony organized for him at ASUU Secretariat, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike.

 

He lamented that poor treatment of university lecturers was responsible for the exodus of Nigerian academics to the United States, Europe and Saudi Arabia.

 

“We encountered a lot of difficulties during the era of Ex- President Mohammadu Buhari. May his soul rest in peace; anchored by Chris Ngige who created a lot of confusion when we were struggling for the good of our education system.”

 

He explained that ASUU was able to achieve the removal of Universities from the IPPIS system while a number of Professors now retire with their full pay, adding that public Universities would have collapsed like the Nigerian Airways and public refineries.

 

The immediate-past ASUU President who insisted that public universities still offer quality education than private ones, said that 95% of university students’ population in Nigeria are still found in public Universities.

 

Also speaking at the event, the current National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna said that ASUU struggle is a collective initiative for the interests of lecturers, students and their parents.

 

He promised to sustain the demand for University autonomy, academic freedom and other general conducive environment for ASUU members and education sector at large.

 

In his own speech, the Chairperson of ASUU in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU branch, Professor Chike Ugwuene praised the former President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke for making MOUAU and the nation proud, adding that there is harmony between the management of MOUAU and ASUU in Umudike.

 

Equally, the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Nneoma Obasi, said his University stood by Professor Osodeke “throughout his sleepless nights of endless negotiations.”