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Cleric Advises FG on Proposed Fund for State Governments
The federal government has been advised to set out guidelines to the state governments on the proposed Paris Club loan refund, otherwise it would go the way of the bail out funds which were allegedly diverted by some State Governors some years ago leaving workers in poverty.
Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, the Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen In Islam Worldwide Wakajaye Ibadan, gave the advice on Tuesday while fielding questions from newsmen after a lecture organised by the press club and cultural Group of Shafaudeen Comprehensive College, Ibadan.
Professor Olagoke who is the Proprietor of the College decried the alleged diversion of bail out fund by the some state Governors over a year ago and pointed out that the purpose was defeated by the governor who did not pay the accumulated workers salaries from the loan.
Other speakers during the lecture included Messrs Adediran Ibraheem Adedayo, a lecturer at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Olusakin Babalola, Editor Oodua News Newspaper and Mrs. H. T. Adelekan, principal of the college.
Olagoke warned that if the funds were released to the Governors unconditionally, their immunity clause would prevent their trial if the funds were mismanaged adding that the masses would be the losers.
On the proposed ASUU strike, Olagoke called on the Federal Government to dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) stressing that the academics in Nigeria were receiving worse deal from successive governments and consequently affecting the quality of our graduates.
The cleric who is also a Chief Lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State warned that if the lecturers were forced to embark on another strike, students would be the losers adding “the right thing to do now is to call them to a round table and resolve the issue.”
Mr. Babalola who spoke on “success and challenges” commended the students of the college where two of them cleared their WASSCE while in SSS II and already in tertiary institutions adding “this a challenge to those of you. Make good use of the quality teachers here and the infrastructure in the College.”
Mr. Adediran of NOUN advised the students to be properly focused and resist the temptation of running after money and trivialities of the world.
Mrs. Adeleke, the principal of the College, urged the federal government to give priority attention to education adding “the sector is poorly funded in Nigeria.”
Master Alao Quddus, the President of the club, assured the management that the students would not let down the proprietor and management of the college.
