The latest news update on ASUU
Strike is that the FG has now provided proof of payment of the N200bn it
claimed to have paid to ASUU via the CBN. We informed you hours ago
that the Federal Government said the money has been deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria but Nigerians and ASUU needed proof of the deposit.
Here is the full details of the latest update on ASUU Strike:
The Federal Government yesterday
presented proof of deposit into the coffers of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN, of the contentious N200 billion meant for the funding of
the universities as demanded by the ASUU.
The government also said that having
fulfilled its own side of the bargain, it expected ASUU to keep to its
own promise and call off the strike.
In a press conference in Abuja, the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin
Okupe, said that it was necessary for the government to proof to
Nigerians that following the presidential intervention on the ongoing
strike by the lecturers, President Goodluck Jonathan instructed the
fulfillment of the agreement with ASUU.
Okupe said: “On November 13, 2013, the
Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation authorised the
banking and payment system department of the Central Bank of Nigeria via
a letter with reference number FD/OAGF/220/ ADC/1/4DF to open a
‘revitalisation of Universities Infrastructural Account’ with the CBN.
“On November 29, 2013, the CBN confirmed
in a letter reference BPSD/BSD/ CON VOL 17/088 to the Accountant-
General of the Federation that the said account had been opened and an
account number was given.
“Prior to all this, the Director of
Funds in the Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation through
a letter reference FD/LP2008/37/C/I/DF dated November 8, communicated
with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission
requesting for the list of federal universities in Nigeria for the
purpose of opening a special account for them.
“On November 12, 2013, the NUC through
the Office of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, in a letter
reference NUC/ES/444/ VOL15/280 responded to the request and gave the
list of the universities with their various account numbers domiciled
with the CBN.”
He said that following this development,
the accountant- general had communicated with the executive secretary,
requesting for the details of amount payable to each of the listed
universities currently being processed by the NUC.
“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 ongoing administrative processes are sorted out.
“Distinguished gentlemen, we want to
reaffirm that the President and this administration have no credibility
issues whatsoever. Mr. President has always honoured his words and
obligations to the Nigerian people as and at when due.”
Okupe said that given due considerations
to the four items mentioned by ASUU as preconditions to their calling
off the strike, the Federal Government stated that none of them remained
weighty enough to justify the continuation of the strike.
“Therefore, there are no further legitimate reasons for the strike by university teachers to continue a day any longer.
“We, therefore, call on Dr. Nasir Fagge,
his distinguished colleagues in the ASUU leadership and other patriotic
members of their union to put all else aside and call off this strike
in the interest of our young men and women who have been kept out of
school for five months and who have no recourse to any form of
compensation whatsoever.
“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. There
are no victor or vanquished in this protracted disagreement.
