The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Akure Zone, has accused the Federal Government of misrepresenting the status of negotiations with the union, adding that newly established universities are mere “crises centres.”
Addressing journalists on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, the ASUU Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, said that despite the seven-year moratorium placed by the Federal Government on the establishment of new universities, it still went ahead to announce new institutions.
The Federal Government had approved a seven-year freeze on creating new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, following concerns over the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, overstretched resources, and declining academic quality.
The moratorium was approved at a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a presentation by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu Alausa.
However, despite the moratorium, nine new universities — including the institution in Epe — received approval.
Egbedokun, flanked by ASUU chairmen from the seven branches under the Akure Zone, expressed concern that while existing universities remained poorly funded, the Federal Government continued to approve new ones, even after announcing a freeze on such approvals.
