The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has bemoaned that lecturers are leaving universities for better opportunities in Nigeria and abroad.

According to the union, this is the result of the Federal Government’s poor handling of the ongoing industrial disharmony and I’ll treatment of academics in Nigeria.

In separate interviews on Sunday, ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, and branches chairmen confirmed that many lecturers have opted alternatives in other economic activities just as others joined other Nigerians in the diaspora.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 and it is yet to reach agreement with the Federal Government.

The union accused the government of failing to release the revitalisation funds for universities; failure to deploy the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries, and allowances of university lecturers.

ASUU has been also demanding the release of earned allowances for its members; release of the whitepaper report of visitation panels to universities and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/2009 agreement.

The government halted the payment of the salaries of the university lecturers.

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“So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too.

“I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it.  Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed,” ASUU President said.

The ASUU Chairman, University of Lagos branch, Dr Dele Ashiru, revealed that more than 70 per cent of the brightest brains in academia had left the country due to the government’s insensitivity to the scholars.

Ashiru said: “The impact of the government’s insensitivity and deployment of the weapon of hunger might not be immediately known until after the strike. As I speak with you, more than 70 per cent of bright and promising young academics retained by the university through mentorship have all left the country for greener pastures due to the poor conditions of service in Nigeria.

‘’Those that are left are on the verge of leaving. No government in the history of Nigeria has been so insensitive, brash, and disrespectful of the best brains in the country. This is unfortunate and a shame.”

Ashiru further stressed that the union would not call off its strike action as done by the other university unions.

The Star