President Buhari pledges support to Varsities as ASUU threatens Shutdown

President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his support to universities and other tertiary institutions to enable them produce the necessary skilled manpower.

The president made the declaration at the 33rd convocation ceremony of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) where he was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Adamu Rasheed, Guardian writes.

Calling on varsities to rise up to their responsibilities by providing the needed skilled manpower to meet the current global challenges, Buhari maintained that government would do its part in ensuring that the Nigerian project is actualized.

“We shall continue to sacrifice our time and energy as well as to ensure fairness, integrity and dedication in order to change the fortunes of our country,’’ he said.

“Government will continue to monitor developments in the universities to ensure that they are developed, respect good governance and rule of law.”

He thanked Nigerians for their prayers while he was on medical vacation in the United Kingdom, while restating his administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

“We are encouraged by the prayers to change the country. We shall continue to stand firmly to fight corruption and improve security for the development of the country, “he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza, said that no fewer than 8, 634 graduands were awarded various degrees and post graduates diplomas, with a total of 52 first class graduates recorded.

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said universities were faced with imminent closure following lack of prompt payment of staff salaries by the government.

This was disclosed in a news conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, titled, ‘Shortfall and drawback of university staff salaries’, where the Port Harcourt zone of the union lamented the neglect of lecturers by their employers.

Speaking at the conference, the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Prof. Beke Sese, described the idea of withholding university staff salaries while establishing new universities at the same time as the height of irresponsibility and wickedness, stating that lecturers would no longer continue to endure the situations against the backdrop of current economic hardship.

“Our members are being compelled by the actions and inactions of government to contemplate the hard decision of withdrawing our services,” he said.