The Convener of the Save Public Education Campaign, a non-governmental organization, Ms. Vivian Bello has revealed that the NGO will lead a national mass protest to bring an end to the incessant strikes embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Speaking during a news conference in Abuja on Monday, June 28, Ms. Bello decried the attitude of the government towards settling the demands of the striking lecturers which has led to the continuous closure of public schools and leaving students wasting at home.
She expressed concern over the N1.29 trillion (representing 7.9 percent) allocated to the education sector in the 2022 budget, noting that it was far from UNESCO’s standard recommendation of 26 percent minimum. The organization stated that the meager allocation shows that the government is not willing to invest in the sector.
Ms. Bello further explained that the planned protest is aimed at preventing the total collapse of Tertiary Education in Nigeria as the strike enters its 136th day.
The organization's co-covener, Comrade Dimeji Macaulay, said it was waiting for the outcome of the ASUU meeting with the government before declaring a 14-days ultimatum for the government and ASUU to end the strike.
The Save Public Education Campaign is a Nigerian Civic Coalition aimed at upholding the educational rights of the citizens.
