THE ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to provide more funding so universities can carry out quality research in key sectors of the economy.
The President of ASUU, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.
Piwuna said that quality research would promote agriculture, boost power supply, tackle insecurity, poverty and other challenges confronting the nation.
The ASUU president, who decried poor funding of research, particularly called on the National Research Council (NRC) to support innovative research by university lecturers.
“As university lecturers, we are ready to conduct quality research, research that will boost our economy.
“To prove how serious we are about research, ASUU in the 2025 agreement with the Federal Government suggested NRC should properly fund research in universities.
“Nigeria is growing, but not developing and through regular research, we can tackle insecurity, poverty, poor power supply, boost agriculture, among other key sectors,” he said.
Piwuna, however, called on the government to fully implement the 2025 agreement reached between it and ASUU.
“The signing of the 2025 agreement between ASUU and the federal government was seen by many Nigerians as a significant move to arrest restiveness among academic staff.
“It was a move to chart a new path of growth and stability in the Nigerian university system.
“However, the haphazard implementation of the agreement leaves so much to be desired, thereby, making the resurgence of campus unrest inevitable,” he said.
He disclosed that the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU had granted permission to some state and federal universities to embark on strikes to press home their demands.
Piwuna said the universities include Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda University, Lapai; Bayelsa State University, Yenagoa, Gombe State University and Plateau University, Bokkos.
“Others are Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma; Kaduna State University; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and Northeast University Kano.
“Also, among are Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University, Oweri; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island; Taraba State University, Jalingo; Bayelsa and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua,” he said. (NAN)
