ASUU: FG releases N100bn for 59 varsities, N30bn for others

FOLLOWING the Federal Government's face-off
with the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), Federal Government, has released N100
billion to be shared by 59 universities in the
country.
Also, another N30 billion has been released by
the Federal Government for 36 federal institutions
in the country as contained in the letter written to
institutions by the committee appointed by the
Federal Government, headed by the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator
Anyim Pius Anyim, to mediate on the face-off with
ASUU.
Addressing members of the union at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, on Thursday,
the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor
Boniface Egboka, said that out of the N100 billion
released for infrastructural development, UNIZIK
got N3.050 billion.
He further said that out of the N30 billion also
released by the Federal Government to take care
of earned allowances which had been the bone of
contention in the Federal Government and ASUU
face-off, UNIZIK, got N1.184 billion.
The Vice Chancellor, recalled that Nnamdi Azikiwe
University since its establishment in 1991, had not
received the mandatory take-off grant of N500
million, adding that the university had only been
working with its internally generated revenue
(IGR) which had helped it in the 60 per cent
development of the institution.
He further appreciated the tenacity of ASUU and
other unions, adding that the strike was what
made it possible for the assistance and praised
the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan's
administration for making sure that the face-off
between the FG and ASUU, was amicable resolved.
Professor Egboka, however, called on the staff,
students and union leaders in the institution to
close rank so that such goodies from the Federal
Government would not elude them.