The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of potential strikes across Nigerian universities in 2024 due to the insufficient budget allocated to the education sector and poor remuneration for academic staff by Tinubu.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Prof. Emmanuel Oshodeke expressed disappointment over the 2024 education budget, which was announced to be N2.18 trillion, or 7.9% of the total budget. He noted that this figure was the same during the Buhari administration and warned that not much progress would be made in the sector if the budget was not increased.
Oshodeke asserted that during his campaign and election earlier this year, Bola Tinubu had promised to increase the education sector’s budget to at least 15% or more. This figure aligns with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s recommendation of a 26% benchmark allocation for the education sector for member states.
However, Oshodeke lamented that Nigeria was the country with the least remuneration for professors globally. He advised the government to meet with cabinet members and increase the budget by 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,” Oshodeke said.
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He further stated that if there was no improvement on this and other demands by next year, ASUU would mobilise its members for a strike. He pointed out that Oyo State has allocated 15% and Enugu State has budgeted 32% for education, while the Federal Government is giving less than eight percent.
“There is still a chance for him to change. 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,” Oshodeke stated.