The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday decried the level of decay in Nigerian universities, saying 200 and 300 level students could not write ordinary letters.

The Chairman of the Ahmadu Bello University branch, Dr. Mohammed Aliyu, stated this while addressing a news conference in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said, “It is disheartening to note that students in 200, even 300 level cannot write ordinary letters. This has shown how poor our education standard is.”

Speaking on the on-going strike, the chairman said it was not about salary increment, but to compel the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement with the union.

“After three years of serious negotiation, government signed the October 2009 agreement with our union.

“The agreement aims at addressing the rot in the Nigerian university system and enhancing its overall efficiency.

“It focuses on funding requirements for revitalization of the Nigerian universities, FG assistance to state universities, progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education – to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020 – and amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65-70 years.”

The chairman said after signing the agreement, both the federal and state governments developed cold feet, forcing the union to embark on a warning strike before proceeding on an indefinite action since July 1.

Aliyu said that ASUU had tried to avoid another crisis in the university system, by writing to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the minister of education in February, reminding them of the pending issues.

“The letter highlighted outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement and the subsequent 2012 memorandum of understanding,” the chairman said.

He listed other issues to include the non injection of N100bn intervention funds in 2012 as FG assistance to state universities, payment of academic allowances, raising education budget to 26 per cent and setting up research units in companies.