A research fellow at the Institute of Project Management Jos and a University Lecturer, Dr. Tunde Olagunjembi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the immediate release of funds for the continuation of critical projects in institutions being executed under the intervention funds for the revitalisation of universities.
The Federal Government had in 2009 reached an agreement with ASUU for the provision of N220 bn annually as intervention funds for the revitalization of universities across the country under the needs assessment programme.
In a statement he signed on Monday, the don stated that the inability of the last administration to release funds for the project led to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The statement partly read, “The immediate past Administration could not sufficiently release funds for the project hence, the incessant prolonged industrial action by the various unions in the universities.
“I am concerned that five months into the life of the Tinubu-led government, nothing has been heard about plans for the implementation of the needs assessment program of the federal government.
“The academic calendar of the universities could be once again disrupted if the government refuses to make funds available for the implementation of signature projects across the tertiary institutions of learning.
“The various unions would have no choice but to act appropriately in the interest of the public universities if the government continued to show a look-warm attitude towards the implementation of the agreement reached with ASUU on the intervention funds for needs assessment among others.
“I, therefore, advise the President whom he acknowledged has made significant statements towards the revamping of the Education sector to release funds for the projects to ensure a stable and quality academic environment at the institutions.”
He, however, urged the president to sustain the Needs Assessment Scheme in the interest and development of the Nigerian university system.
