Talk with ASUU, private varsities ready for reopening – Afe Babalola

The founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, has urged the Federal Government to negotiate with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities with a view to paying the salaries of its members and equipping public universities to make them safe for reopening.

Babalola, in a statement titled, ‘COVID-19: ASUU vindicated on objection to resumption by public universities’, made available in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, said COVID-19 had vindicated the association’s position over the years about decayed infrastructure and the lack of necessary facilities in the universities

He said, “This is in sharp contrast to what obtains in private universities, most of which are reputed for their moral and physical discipline, quality and functional education, hygienic and safe environment, predictable academic calendar, absence of unionism, committed teachers, modern teaching equipment and laboratories as well as adequate preparation to prevent COVID-19.”

Babalola, who said the private institutions had reiterated their readiness to reopen and had as well written to the National University Commission to visit to verify their claims of compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, kicked against lumping together of public and private institutions in the blanket closure since March

“I suggest that the NUC, Ministry of Education and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 should advise the Federal Government on the danger of lumping public and private universities together when considering whether or not to allow universities to reopen.

“Many of the private universities have full residential facilities for both their staff and students. This makes it possible for teachers in private universities to mentor and monitor their students day and night. Some private universities even have lectures in the night, while some have state-of-the-art teaching hospitals and well equipped medical centres,” he said

The ABUAD founder charged the federal and state governments on the need “to concentrate on the provision of the necessary equipment and infrastructure to make the public institutions attractive like their private counterparts.”