I Can Fully Relate With ASUU’s Anger- TETFund New boss.
The New Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, has justified the anger and grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who have been on a nationwide strike for more than a month now.
Mr. Echono, has assured the striking lecturers that the government was doing everything in their power to find a lasting solution to the persisting strike, which has negatively affected the Nigerian University system, especially standing a chance of been among the global rankings of Universities.
The TETFund boss said this in Abuja to journalist and staff of TETFund shortly after been sworn into office, as the new Executive Secretary, Echono confirmed that most of the things ASUU was asking for has been done, particularly those within the preview of the Federal Ministry of Education.
In his words:
“There are one or two issues which has to do with lots of funding which the government is working on. There’s no doubt about the fact that ASUU is right in its anger and grievances, hence they choose to shut down the Universities in protest. We really need to treat our teachers better, give them living wage instead of what they currently get these days.
“I can fully relate the anger of ASUU members particularly the issue of poor welfare package that really needs to be reviewed and we are working on that currently. But let me share a story. I attended the naming ceremony of the daughter of a very good friend of mine some years ago.
“Undoubtedly, there’s need for massive investment in our education system. TETFund has done marvelously well in the past few years and it will continue to do more to better our tertiary education system.
He, however, solicited ASUU’s kind understanding and consideration to the numerous financial challenges being faced by government, which has affected financial allocation to different sectors of the economy.
