ASUU:Okonjo-Iweala is a dictator

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has branded
Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala 'a dictator' for her
insistence that Federal Government would not release an
extra kobo to fund education.

Members of the union who staged a peaceful protest at the
Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on
Friday, chanted songs and displayed placards condemning
the posture of the Minister.

Some of the placards carried by the lecturers read "Okonjo-
Iweala, take it or leave it is a dictator's stance on labour

industrial negotiation", "Responsible government respects
agreement" and "No nation can develop without genuine
commitment to education".

Speaking with journalists after the protest, Acting Chairman
of ASUU ESUT chapter, Uche Omeje, said

they were
protesting because the federal government has refused to
implement an agreement it freely went into with ASUU in
2009 as well as their memorandum of understanding of
2012.

"They have been dragging their feet and we are not happy.
Such statement like 'take it or leave it' cannot promote
education. No nation can develop by not having a genuine
commitment to education, research and education.

"The Minister of Finance made a very clear statement that
take it or leave it, federal government is not going to
release extra ten kobo to fund education.

We are saying
that to make such a statement is clearly the mindset of
Brettonwoods institution or Washington consensus. It is the
mindset of a dictator" Omeje said.

He noted that if any nation must develop, it must show
commitment to education, adding that it is not an issue of
'take it or leave it'.

Omeje regretted that Nigeria occupies the bottom rock of
nations that spent so less in education, stressing that the
percentage of GDP federal government spends on education
is so low when compared to other nations.
Source:THE NATIOn