The lawyer said the Federal Government has displayed
irresponsibility and nonchalance to resolve the lingering strike by ASUU since
February 14, 2022.
Olajengbesi, therefore, urged the captains of industry to
rise to the occasion just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic when their
financial intervention contributed immensely to Nigeria’s fight against the
dreaded disease and its economic implications.
The lawyer’s appeal to the high net worth philanthropists
followed the remarks of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State who said the
Federal Government cannot borrow N1.1 trillion to meet ASUU’s demands.
Commenting, Olajengbesi said, “The comment by Governor Dave
Umahi of the All Progressives Congress is uncharitable and insensitive to
millions of students of public universities who have been at home for seven
months now since February 14, 2022 when ASUU embarked on an industrial action
this year.
“It is reckless for the governor to say that the present
administration cannot borrow N1.1 trillion to defray the Revitalization Fund
and the Earned Academic Allowance owed ASUU. Whereas, the APC government has
embarked on a borrowing spree since 2015 with Nigeria’s debt to China
increasing from $3.26bn as of September 30, 2020, to $3.59bn as of September
30, 2021, showing an increase of $330m in one year. The figure has definitely
risen in the last one year.
“The APC government must know that education is at the core
of any development. Spending loans on phantom White Elephant projects and train
is counterproductive without building the mind. Any infrastructural development
without human capital development is nonsense.
“Having demonstrated its unwillingness to end ASUU strike
despite the billions that Umahi’s APC received in the recent primary elections,
good-spirited Nigerians can only appeal to business magnates like Aliko
Dangote, Femi Otedola, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Mike Adenuga, as well as bank chiefs
to come to the rescue of the common Nigerians whose children have been out of
school for seven months this year and nine months in 2020 whilst politicians
send their children to schools abroad.
“The philanthropists should please answer the call of the
nation for youths to return to classrooms as some of them may be lured into
crimes as a result of idleness. One of Nigeria’s greatest resources is its
vibrant youth bulge and this population should be harnessed for productivity
and not left to rot away.”
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