FG Finally Provides “Proof” Of Payment Of N200bn Into Designated CBN Account, Calls For End To ASUU Strike

The presidency on
Wednesday for the umpteenth time pleaded with the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off
their five-month old strike just as it claimed that the
sum of N200 billion requested by the union as a sign
of faith that government is sincere in its commitment
to revitalize the nation's comatose universities, has
been paid into an account with the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).
The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck
Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said at a
press briefing in Abuja that the account, a
"revitalization of Universities Infrastructural
Account," was authorized by the office of the
Accountant General of the Federation on November
13.
Stressing that there were now more than enough
reasons for the nation's striking university lecturers
to return to the classroom, Okupe said, "I state
categorically that I have personally seen the balance
in the account as of today and confirm that it
contains the requisite amount and disbursement will
commence as soon as on-going administrative
processes are sorted out".
He also used the opportunity to reaffirm that the
President and the administration have no credibility
issues whatsoever.
"Mr. President has always honored his words and
obligations to the Nigerian people as and at when
due," he said.
The presidential aide dismissed the four items
mentioned by ASUU as preconditions for calling off
the strike, stating that none of them "remain
substantially pending or weighty enough to justify
the continuation of the strike", adding that
"therefore, there are no legitimate reasons for the
strike by University teachers to continue a day any
longer".
ASUU had given the following pre-conditions to the
Federal Government:
•Commitment from the President that any review or
reconsideration or renegotiation of the 2009
Agreement will not substantially affect the pact
which is the cause of the ongoing strike;
•Immediate payment of all outstanding salary
arrears and allowances of varsity teachers without
victimization; and
•A written commitment from the President that the
Federal Government will commit N225billion
annually to the funding of universities for the next
four years.
There is a fourth condition, which is said to be
"personal" to ASUU, bordering on the need to be
wary of gradual loss of public sympathy.
While appealing to the leadership of ASUU as well as
other 'patriotic' members of the union to put all else
aside and call of the strike in the interest of Nigerian
students, who have been kept at home for 5 months
without any form of 'compensation' whatsoever,
Okupe said, "Having come this far, we believe it is
time that we all come together once again as major
stakeholders in the affairs of the country and the
educational sector in particular to move on and begin
to chart a new course for advancing the sector and
improving the standard of our institutions for higher
learning|.
He concluded that "There are no victor or vanquished
in this protracted disagreement."
Information Nigeria recalls that the Federal
Government last week indicated it would sack the
striking lecturers if they did not return to their
classes yesterday (Wednesday) although it
postponed the deadline to next week Monday, 9th
December, ASUU ignored the threat, opting to
continue their strike.