How SAP worsens education sector woes, by APC chieftain

 

Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman

Tells ASUU knee-jerk approach not solution

Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, yesterday, blamed the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for the crisis in Nigeria’s education sector.

Lukman, in an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, argued that the policy implemented when former Military President Ibrahim Babangida held sway between August 27,1985 and August 26, 1993, led to the drastic shortfall in funding of the sector.

The Kaduna-born politician charged stakeholders on a more sustainable roadmap to address the challenges bedevilling education in the country.

He faulted what he termed the knee-jerk approach of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) in resolving the quagmire.

His words: “I am not very clear about ASUU demands, I must be honest. When I talk of plan, if you read some of my previous writings, they came out very clear. It is about returning to the old framework, which is about what was destroyed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank policies when they imposed a regime of deregulation.

“United States, United Kingdom, Germany name them, have their public education funded by government. No

“For us to resolve the problems, it is not about throwing money at universities. Go and read about my last write-up about ASUU strike when they got an agreement of about N30 billion from the Federal Government. I asked a question that after that N30 billion is expended, where would the next round come?”

He continued: “Because it will be eaten again and that is the trap we are in and unfortunately, we have also created the destructive culture – whether ASUU works or not – whenever they resume, they get paid.

“As far as ASUU members are concerned, in this period of strike, government is only helping them to save.”