By Usman Sulyman
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi has asserted that risk assessment is essential for re-opening academic institutions after the months-long shut-down due to COVID-19 outbreak.
The don also charged the Federal Government to rehabilitate the structures of various educational institutions in the country.
Professor Ogunyemi gave this charge while featuring on a radio programme tagged Oro-Ilu on Sobi FM, Ilorin.
He said the state of Nigerian universities has deteriorated and there is the need to revisit the past where students from different parts of the world come to study in Nigeria due to the quality of education in the county.
According to the doyen, “Part of the issues discussed in 2009 was to sustain rehabilitation of universities, assessment of universities every four years, funding research to aid project result and payment of bonuses to lecturers.”
Speaking on the claims that the association is fighting for its selfish interest, he said students need to understand the level from which the association is coming, stating issues such as overpopulation, unavailability of laboratory equipment and books in libraries as well as the deteriorating condition of university hostels as existential challenges.
He added that schools will only resume if the federal government meets ASUU’s terms on risk assessment and if that is done and protocols are put in place, the association will recheck its stance on resumption.