Dr Mark Nyitse, a senior lecturer with Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, has advised President Bola Tinubu to personally interface with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and resolve the lingering issues permanently.
Nyitse, who lectures in the Education Faculty, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Makurdi.
The senior lecturer said that Tinubu has so far demonstrated capacity in resolving the nation’s challenges through impactful reforms.
He described the President as a fearless leader, committed to tackling age-long problems like the fuel subsidy removal.
“He should solve the problem once and for all without relying on a committee. He should take a bold decision, and history will judge him kindly.
“Doing so is necessary because you cannot build your economy as a nation without sound education.
“He should emulate what Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) did in the past to solve the problem of nurses.
“Since the 2009 agreement, the one you often hear people mention, nothing tangible has really changed, apart from some palliatives,” he said.
Nyitse, a research fellow, described ASUU as a very patient union that represented intellectuals with all kinds of people as members, even those in power.
“I wouldn’t say the government as an institution is entirely insincere, but something is wrong somewhere.
“We belong to an academic staff union, and you actually have to pay for your promotion -not in the corrupt sense, but in the sense that you must work for it.
“You must publish in reputable, recognised journals. Your ideas have to be genuine. Your community involvement has to be verifiable. All these require spending money.
“And when you look at what lecturers earn compared to what they spend to publish their work, it’s discouraging.
“Your ideas must be published — and not just anywhere, not in some mushroom journals. They must be tested, reviewed, and accepted,” he added. (NAN)
