ASUU Strike News Update: FG Provides Proof of N200bn Payment To ASUU
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.”
Click here to read all the other latest ASUU Strike 2013 News Update
God Bless Nigeria!!!
Let them present the supporting document to the public
Pls ASUU….be considerate dis tym
If the govt knows that what asuu is fighting for is justified what prevents them from signing the agreement since. Just b/c their children are not schooling in Nigerian universities . In fact I advocate for a legislation banning public office holders from sending their children to schools outside Nigeria or to private schools.
They suppose to communicate to ASUU officially not via the media.
All that FG needs to do now is officially communicate ASUU with evidence of d deposit, draw up the memorandum of understanding and invite d people concerned for signing. This cannot take more than 48 hours if both sides are sincere
No Victor No vanquished indeed, as if it was Biafra
Why would a responsible govt. wait for a crisis to happen before the right thing is done? The likes of Mr Okupe, Mr Wike etc, are just creating unnecessary loopholes for the opposition parties to cash in, which is not healthy GEJ political ambitions. Nigerians voted GEJ into power and not these people that are creating problems here and there
ASUU & FG Should settle this ones & for all.