The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure zone, representing academic staff members of public universities in Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States, has raised concerns over the detrimental impact of poor education funding on national security.
Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU in Ondo State, addressed journalists on Monday ahead of the union’s zonal meeting held at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He emphasized that inadequate funding of the education sector is exacerbating the surge in violent crimes, particularly kidnappings, across the country.
Egbedokun, accompanied by ASUU chairmen from various universities including OAU, FUTA, EKSU, FUOYE, and UNIMED, accused the federal government of failing to honor its commitment to remove the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) for university lecturers.
“The government’s insincerity regarding education funding is evident in its failure to implement agreements reached with ASUU over the years. The recurrent breach of agreements has contributed to the current challenges we face,” Egbedokun stated.
He reiterated the importance of adhering to UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating 26% of the national budget to education, highlighting education as a vital tool for combating insecurity.
“Many perpetrators of insecurity may have lacked access to adequate education. Proper funding of education would mitigate such issues by ensuring prompt payment of staff salaries and creating opportunities for citizens to lead fulfilling lives,” Egbedokun remarked.
Egbedokun emphasized the urgent need for the government to prioritize education funding as a crucial step towards addressing the root causes of insecurity in the country.