x

We don’t know why ASUU is on strike – FG

The federal government said it was still not aware of reasons that caused the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

This was as it said universities founded and being funded by state governments have no business joining federal universities on strike,if the cause of the strike bothered on issues the union claimed.

Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, speaking in Abuja,also told the union that it lacked basic rights to dictate to the government how salaries of members who he noted,were employees, should be paid by government being their employer

He said the federal government has limited resources and cannot borrow money to pay ASUU, saying government can only borrow money to fund infrastructure like railways and other critical infrastructure where it gets return from.

“Why they (ASUU) have chosen to go on strike is something that neither you nor I can explain”, he told reporters while answering questions on the federal government and ASUU face-off.

“In the school system,we have about 2.6 million Nigerian undergraduates in the nearly 200 universities across Nigeria. The federal government owns less than 50 of these universities. State governments own nearly 50 of them as well whereas private people,private organisations,faith based organisations own over 100 of them.

“The only part where children are not in school at the moment are the ones that belong to the federal government. So there is no need for any other university to be at home,”he said.

Nwajiuba explained that,”The engagement with Academic Staff Union of Universities,ASUU,has been a long drawn one,based on the 2009 agreement that was signed before we came into government.

” It is our duty as government to give life to those agreement which ASUU rightly seeks to make sure that the universities that the federal government owns are properly funded.

“The federal government’s funding is very limited and because of the additional challenges of security,it had to repeatedly borrow money to finance projects. This same borrowing is not available to build social infrastructure, it’s only available to build infrastructure that government can get return from,like railways.

“To borrow and pay people is normally not what World Bank or other financial institutions borrow money for.

However,the federal government has continued to address this by paying the salaries that are due.”

He said the university lecturers cannot continue to dictate to the government how their salaries be paid.

Hear him:”Government is the one who pays, therefore, it is impractical and incongruous that somebody who is paid a salary continues to dictate for someone who pays him.”

Hot this week

Defection: Kaduna Now 95% APC — Governor Uba Sani Declares at Mega Rally

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaKaduna State Governor Uba Sani has...

China Commends Nigeria for Joint ONSA/DSS/Army Rescue of Four Kidnapped Chinese Citizens

▪︎ Secret Police stabilises rescued kidnapees at own medical...

How Violence Starves Nigeria’s Food Basket

By Emmanuel Sam DavidBenue State, once renowned as the...

China: Africa’s Most Reliable Companion on Africa’s Path to Development

By:-H.E. Ambassador JIANG Feng, Head of the Mission of the People’s Republic of...

Wike Assures 12-Month Completion of Nigerian Law School Hostel

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike...

KOSIEC Releases Timetable for 2026 Kogi Local Government Elections

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Kogi State Independent...

Terrorist Invade Southern Kaduna Community, Abduct 10 Residents in Kauru LGA

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaTerrorists have again attacked Southern Kaduna,...

How Violence Starves Nigeria’s Food Basket

By Emmanuel Sam DavidBenue State, once renowned as the...

Russia-Ukraine War: The Unfolding Burden on Africa

By Abu Jemimah LamiWhen Russia invaded Ukraine on...

Kaduna Partners REA to Boost Renewable Energy Access, Drive Industrial Growth

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThe Kaduna State Government, under the...

Gov. Ododo Pledges Full Support for North-Central Nigeria Prays Rally in Kogi

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

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img