Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday blamed the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the nation’s faulty constitution.
He described the strike as manifestation of an imperfect federation. The governor, who spoke at an occasion marking his 800 days in office, remarked that the federation, as currently being run by the Federal Government has failed to recognize the autonomy of each state as federating units, competent to take decisions without any adverse consequences from decisions taken by the Federal Government.
Fashola wondered why disagreement between employees of government in federal universities should paralyze activities in state universities when there are no labour disputes with states authorities.
“Why should every university lecturer, whether employed by the state or the federal universities earn the same wage?
What happened to freedoms of contract? What happened to the principles of competitive advantage in economics?” he queried.
Fashola noted that it is not possible for government to continue to fund education the way it does and attract the best equipment and brains. “Should we develop a process of guaranteed scholarships for indigent students while those who can afford to do so pay a fair fee in order to guarantee autonomy to universities and provide funding for them?” he asked.
He pointed out that frequency of strikes, uncertainty in academic calendar and how they affect planning and capacity to create jobs in the public and private sectors are issues that require the attention by policy makers.
As for Lagos State, the governor said the problem confronting his government is monumental.
He added that his administration has been grappling with a deficit of infrastructural renewal of the past 30 years. Fashola noted that it is impossible to solve in just two years what was left undone in the last 30 years.
Fashola disclosed that the ‘Area Boys’ syndrome in the state is now a thing of the past as that they have been gainfully employed by government and are now responsible for sweeping the streets at the nights, clearing drainages and
beautification exercises.
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