The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Uyo Branch, has condemned the move by a group of legislators to abolish the post-UTME screening test.
?This was made known to newsmen by its Chairman, Mr Nwachukwu? Anyim, at the end of a congress meeting held on Thursday in Uyo.
?Anyim said that since the university was operating as an autonomous institution, the university senate had the right to regulate the admission of students.
?“Based on the autonomy of universities, the different universities’ senate have the power to regulate the admission of students, without prejudice to the policies of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),” he added.
The union leader, however, said that they were not in support of the exploitation of candidates under the guise of the screening exercise.
?Anyim said that the Union frowned at the delay tactics approach by the Federal Government on the implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.
“ ASUU is aggrieved that the Federal Government has not kept to the funding requirements for revitalising the Nigerian university system.
“The government has not provided for progressive increase of annual budgetary allocation of 26 per cent to education sector between 2009 and 2020.
?“That government has not amended the pension and retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65 to 70 years,” he said.
?He said that the union had called on well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders to mount pressure on the Federal Government to finalise arrangements for the full implementation of the agreements.
?Anyim noted that the implementation of the agreement would help to address the problems of decaying infrastructure, brain drain, inadequate hostel accommodation for students and lack of adequate laboratories in the universities.
?The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that it was the university of Uyo that first started the conduct of the post-UTME. (NAN)