Finally, FG Accepts Blame for ASUU Strike

The Nigerian Government, in a departure from it stance wednesday admitted that its failure to fulfil its side of the bargain with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resulted in the strike action embarked upon by the lecturers of tertiary institutions on Sunday.

While briefing journalists in the State House, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, note that it was sad that ASUU went on strike owing to the failure of the federal government to fulfil its side of the bargain with the union last year.

Adamu, however, said the federal government was not happy over the way ASUU proceeded on strike, observing that it failed to follow due process by giving the government reasonable notice as the case should be.

Nevertheless, he said he hoped to meet with the lecturers later wednesday or today and expressed optimism that both camps would strike a deal that could end the strike, just as he itemised the demands of ASUU and gave an update on each of them.

“It’s very sad that I am here and ASUU is on strike. Late last year, we had a meeting because ASUU gave a one-week notice of strike and we were able to work out some agreement.

“I must confess that government has not fulfilled its side of the bargain, even though we are unhappy that ASUU went on this strike without following due process and giving us good notice, we realised that we promised something and we did not fulfill it.

“I hope I will be meeting them later today or tomorrow and I’m sure we will be able to reach some agreement so that the strike will be called off as soon as possible. I’m sure you are aware of the issues we agreed on.

“There is the issue of re-negotiation which is the only one that they agreed government has done what it promised, because we set up the re-negotiation team and negotiations are already ongoing.

“There is the issue of unpaid earned allowances and I think because of some miscommunication, what we promised could not be done, but I am assuring ASUU and the whole nation that this is going to be done.

“There is the issue of registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Commission. I think that one, there are few issues that need to be sorted out with the National Pension Commission. I believe there will be no problem with that.

“There is the issue of their staff schools, which I think the court has given them a verdict to go ahead with it. They have also requested that they should be allowed not to remit their funds to the TSA (Treasury Single Account) and I think government will not do this, but there are some peculiar funds in the university like the endowment funds which are monies kept and all the interest they generate, prices and so on are given.

“Government will exempt the endowment funds, but in universities, it is part of the peculiarities. I hope later on when I meet them today, there will be total agreement,” he said.

Also, the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said the council approved the award of a contract for the rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail line and the completion of 12 railway stations in the country.

According to him, the contract was awarded to CCEC at the cost of $122.6 million, including all taxes and at the exchange rate of N305/$, with a completion period of 15 months.

He also said the council approved another memorandum from the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the interim construction of the narrow rail gauge system.

He said the second approval would aid the completion and full utilisation of the Lagos-Kano, Calabar-Maiduguri, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail lines from October this year.

He said the development “means that with effect from October this year, there will be new locomotives with about 17 wagons that will be in use; we’ll be able to move a million tonnes of our goods, and by this, preserve the lifespan of our roads”.

He also said the council approved the revised estimate cost for the construction of 1150MVA and 330, 132 KVA transformers for Birnin Kebbi and reinforcement of 330KVA sub-stations.