The Bauchi Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised several recent policy pronouncements by the Federal Government, describing them as harmful to the development of Nigeria’s education sector.

Addressing journalists at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, on Wednesday in Bauchi, the Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone, Comrade Namo Timothy Aku, said the Union rejected the Federal Government’s decision to establish the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF) without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

ASUU said the initiative announced by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, was inconsistent with the provisions of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

The union questioned why the proposed funding scheme was denominated in United States dollars instead of the local currency, alleging that it could become a channel for foreign borrowing and external influence over Nigeria’s research agenda.

ASUU also opposed the planned establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework, describing the move as a neo-colonial agenda capable of undermining local universities.

The union called on the Federal Government to focus on strengthening Nigerian universities to make them globally competitive rather than promoting foreign institutions.

On the controversial mother tongue policy, ASUU condemned the reversal of the use of indigenous languages in early childhood education in favour of English language instruction.

According to the union, advanced countries such as China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have continued to utilise local languages in education to promote national development.

ASUU further faulted the Federal Government’s proposal to scrap courses considered “irrelevant” in public universities, insisting that humanities and social science disciplines remain vital in developing critical thinking, creativity and communication skills.

The union also rejected the compulsory enrolment of academics into the Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD), describing it as an infringement on academic autonomy and institutional integrity.