The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has accused the federal government of creating new universities and polytechnics for political purpose.
ASUU in a press conference at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on Wednesday said the move was meant for the 2023 presidential campaigns.
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government had recently approved the establishment of new universities and polytechnics across Nigeria.
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Addressing newsmen, the Owerri chapter of the body wondered why the government continued establishing new universities when it is unable to properly fund the existing ones.
The coordinator of ASUU in the zone, Uzo Onyebinama said: “We had asked the federal government in our various conferences why the need of creating universities when it can’t fund existing ones.
“But you know, as politicians, given that we are approaching the 2023 election, they want to have something for their campaign.
“When they visit those communities, they tell them they’ve given them universities. It’s not about opening universities, but about funding and sustenance. Why establish new universities when the ones on ground are mere shadows of themselves.
“If they fund the existing ones and expand their facilities, those ones can absorb whatever number of students these new ones will take. Truth is that the same new universities will tomorrow join other old ones to lament about funding. And another government will come up to establish theirs.
“Both the Federal and state governments are guilty of this and that is why we are asking the federal government to stop the proliferation of universities.”
