By Peter Omopo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the state of governance in Nigeria, citing widespread institutional decay, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and endemic corruption as major impediments to national development.
ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, made the remarks on Saturday during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Conference held at the University of Benin, Main Campus, Ugbowo.
Osodeke expressed deep concern over what he described as a glaring absence of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in the country’s leadership. He blamed the prevailing economic and social challenges on the government’s adoption of neoliberal economic policies, which he argued have triggered rising public disillusionment and mass youth migration, popularly known as “Japa.”
He lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources, the country continues to grapple with high unemployment, soaring inflation, a weakened currency, and deepening poverty.
“With its vast oil reserves, agricultural potential, and energetic young population, Nigeria should be a global development leader,” Osodeke stated. “Instead, it struggles under the weight of bad governance, poor policy choices, and systemic neglect of its informal economy.”
He added that while the informal sector remains critical to the survival of millions of Nigerians, government policies—such as multiple taxation and rising energy and communication costs—have only stifled its growth.
The ASUU president urged policymakers to adopt more inclusive and people-centred economic frameworks and called for urgent reforms to restore public trust and steer the country toward sustainable development.
