Otti Challenges Nigerian Universities On Financial Independence, Asks Them To Remove Begging Cap For Thinking Cap

By Daniel Maduka

The Abia State Government has assured that it will take all necessary steps to address all the challenges facing the State-own University, Abia state university Uturu.

This is even as Governor Alex Otti, has challenged the Management of the Institution to put on its thinking cap, with a view to fashioning ways of being independent, as in other climes.

The Source reports that there has been a disruption of industrial harmony at the university in the last two weeks over claims of unpaid 11 months salary arrears, which is believed to have pre-dated the present Government.

The Governor who spoke  on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, when he received in audience a delegation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU led by its Zonal coordinator Calabar zone Dr Happiness Uduak,

expressed shock over the 18 months salary differentials the Union said are being owed its ABSU members from 2009- 2010, in addition to the 11 months salary arrears owed them by the previous administration.

Governor Otti, however noted that universities, especially, the older ones should be able to function, independent of government subventions, adding that the Union members should work hand in glove with the management to make the university financially independent.

“It is important we put on  our thinking cap and remove our begging cap because this whole idea of begging is the problem we have in Nigeria

“Even as a country, we keep begging, we keep borrowing . We need to think about being financially independent.

“Even from research alone, if there is anything happening in the university ,we should be able to generate enough resources to do a few things.” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor, while promising to parley with the university authority, on how to solve the identified challenges, however said his administration is mulling the establishment of a Visitation Panel, as part of a restructuring process.

The ASUU delegation leader, Dr Uduak, appreciated the Government’s efforts towards stabilizing ABSU since mounting the saddle in the last few months, particularly in the area of prompt release of monthly subventions, a gesture which, according to her  has been instrumental to the industrial harmony between the government and the union.

She appealed to the Government to look into the issue of the 11 months salary arrears being owed the members ,as well as consider an up ward review of the university’s monthly subvention subventions.