The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that poor compensation and the insufficient amount of money allocated to the education sector could lead to nationwide strikes at universities in 2024.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke clarified in a Monday interview with The PUNCH that President Bola Tinubu had pledged to raise the education sector to at least 15 percent or more during the campaign and election earlier this year.
Similarly, a benchmark allocation of 26% for the education sector was suggested for member nations by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.
Osodeke, however, said that ASUU was dejected when the 2024 education budget was announced to be N2.18tr or 7.9 per cent of the budget.
He reiterated that it was the same figure during the Buhari government, adding that not much progress would be made in the sector; if the budget was not increased.
Osodeke advised the government to meet with the cabinet members and increase the budget to 15 or more.
“With this seven per cent education budget, nothing will change in the sector, it is just as we had during Buhari’s time. Tinubu during his campaign promised to increase the education budget but nothing.
“However, there is still a chance for him, to change. But if no improvement on this and our other demands, by next year, we will mobilise our people and we can’t stay like this because Oyo State has 15 per cent and Enugu State budgeted 32 per cent for education, but FG is giving less than eight per cent.
“He can still increase it, they should liaise with the executives and come out with a budget that is not less than 15 per cent as he promised during the election.”