The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised serious concerns over deep-seated corruption, weak institutions, and persistent bureaucratic inefficiencies in Nigeria, warning that these problems continue to undermine governance at all levels.
Speaking on Sunday during its 23rd National Delegates Conference at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), the union’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, condemned the federal government's lack of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. He warned that the government's embrace of neo-liberal economic policies was worsening living conditions and driving a wave of mass youth migration—popularly referred to as japa—as well as apathy, criminality, and self-help practices.
Osodeke lamented that despite the country’s abundant resources—including vast oil reserves, agricultural capacity, and a vibrant youth population—Nigeria remains gripped by high unemployment, inflation, a weakening currency, and deepening poverty. He urged the federal government to prioritize the fight against corruption and institutional reform, calling these essential steps toward national recovery.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) also criticised the federal government for what it described as continued neglect of polytechnic workers' welfare. The association’s National President, Adebanjo Ogunsipe, speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said polytechnic workers, who form a critical pillar of the technical education system, were being poorly treated despite playing a central role in national development.
Ogunsipe decried irregular and inadequate salary payments, warning that the growing economic pressure on workers was unsustainable. He called on President Bola Tinubu to recognise the role of polytechnic education in economic advancement and to reflect this in his administration’s policies.
“There’s a limit to human endurance,” he said, hinting that industrial action might be unavoidable if the government continues to ignore workers' demands.
In a related development, the Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN) has faulted recent remarks by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who claimed Nigeria has produced too many social science graduates and urged universities to shift focus to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
The Minister made the comments on April 30, 2025, while presenting provisional licenses to 11 newly approved private universities in Abuja. He argued that the country needs more problem solvers and fewer job seekers.
But SSAN President, Prof. Chike Okolocha, fired back in a strongly worded statement, describing the minister’s comment as “anti-intellectual” and a violation of the Universities Autonomy Law. Okolocha said the claim lacked empirical evidence and mirrored a similarly discredited assertion by former Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, who once argued Nigeria had a surplus of medical doctors.
“The minister failed to present any data on the number of social science graduates and the nation’s actual demand,” Okolocha said. “Social sciences were born out of the need to address social problems, and in the 21st century, these challenges have only grown. National development cannot be achieved without contributions from both technical and social science disciplines.”
He called on the Federal Government to publicly dissociate itself from the minister’s comments and reaffirm its commitment to balanced, multidisciplinary education as a pathway to solving Nigeria’s complex socio-economic problems.
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