x

STRIKE: Direct Abacha’s Loot To Settle ASUU – Lawmaker Tells FG

A member of the House of Representatives Dachung Musa Bagos has suggested that part of the recently returned $23m Abacha loot should be used to settle the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Members of the union have been on strike since February 14 over improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities among others. But one bone of contention for academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, amounting to about N1.1 trillion.

While the Federal Government says it does not have enough funds to settle the lecturers, Bagos who represents Jos South/Jos East is wondering why the recent Abacha should not be used to settle ASUU.

“We have pressing needs. Like now, ASUU has been on strike and the government is trying to settle those issues,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

“As a representative of the people, if I have to argue where those funds should be channeled to on the floor, I will say, ‘Why can’t you channel this fund to ASUU so that most of the youths that are at home would go back to school?’ But some of the areas we feel that the executive is channeling those funds are not the immediate needs of Nigerians.”

The lawmaker also accused the Federal Government of not carrying the National Assembly along in the disbursement of recovered loots.

“This is my third year in the National Assembly, we have never discussed any of the recovered loots. We just sit down and we hear that the executive recovered loots and allot the same to projects that they so desire,” Bagos explained.

He said it appears the Federal Government is not alloting these recovered funds to the right areas, saying if there are agreements entered before such monies are repatriated, the National Assembly should ratify such.

“We believe that when we discuss these issues at the National Assembly, we appropriate those funds according to the needs of Nigeria, it is going to go a long way; not just the executive looking at it and alloting it (the fund) to what they feel it should be,” he added. “The constitution has given us that right.”

Hot this week

A’ibom shrine crisis; NGO seeks truce, appeals for discretion

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,UyoA Non Governmental Organisation, Open Forum for...

LAND USE CHARGE: KGIRS Offers Rebates, Urges Property Owners to Pay Voluntarily

**By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja**The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service...

FG seals petrol station of PPMC Boss,4 others in A’Ibom

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,UyoThe Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory...

How l became a consultant inside Kaduna Prison – Journalist Idibia

MY STORYBy Idibia GabrielIt is Interesting but hazardous to...

Governor Ododo Bags Another National Honour in Education

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaKogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo,...

JUST IN: ISWAP Launches Deadly Attack on Military Base in Borno, Soldiers Feared Killed

Several soldiers are feared dead while others sustained injuries...

Today’s football match fixtures

Here’s a clean, reader-friendly rewrite of today’s global football...

Japan Plunges into Political Turmoil as Ruling Coalition Collapses

Japan was thrown into political uncertainty on Friday after...

Kogi Court Sentences 28-Year-Old Husseini Mustapha to Life Imprisonment for Rape

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Kogi State High Court sitting...

Olawepo-Hashim Accuses APC Elements of Orchestrating Smear Campaign Ahead of 2027 Elections

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaFormer presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim...

WHO Eyes 2030 As Year For Achievement of Refractive Eye Care For All

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuAs the world marks the 2025...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img