ASUU National President, Fagge, others seek reversal of privatized firms, fault neo-liberalism

www.odogwublog.com reports that Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) zonal Symposium , a national event being hosted by ASUU Owerri zone at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has ended in Awka with observation that the systemic corruption in the country has dealt a big blow to the  Economic system of the country.
As well, the immediate past National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge Isa, on Thursday, called for the reversal of the privatization policy which ceded critical public companies belonging to the government to private individuals. He also sought for termination of such policies which he said promotes exploitation of the masses.
This was even as he faulted the neo-liberalism economy being practiced in the country, adding that the basically ten points focus of the economic policy, which on the face of it looks good, have been working against the progress of the country.
Speaking on the topic: ‘’Nigeria and Economic Recession: Reappraising the Neoliberalism Option’’, Isa who was the keynote speaker, pointed out that the economic woes of the country was partly caused by privatization policy which has not proved its worth on the nation’s economy.
“Privatization is a conduit pipe through which the capitalists/politicians siphon public funds. Today, public funds are used to assist privatized assets. Government should reverse these privatized firms.”
“It’s good to note that ASUU is helping the Nigeria Labour Congress to pressure the government in this direction” he said.
The unionist queried why the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, should borrow $5.2 to assist privatized power sector.
“Fashola had told Bloomberg that the government would obtain loan of $5.2 million from World Bank to assist privatized power sector. Implementation of these programmes is the genesis of powertry in Nigeria” he added
Also speaking, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science of the hosting institution, Nkoli Obianyo, lamented that neo-liberalism is corruption-prone. She regretted that another oppressor, China, has are busy making inroads into Nigeria.
“We moved from one oppressor to another one which is China. Their technologists move in droves into Nigeria. We must device means to survive this” said she.
 Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna who was chair Publicity Sub-Committee of the event and Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Unizik, said the theme of the symposium was apt and timely adding that the fight against corruption must be collective and sustained.