FG Has No Money for ASUU’s Demands, Says Labour Minister
The lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may come to an end soon, but issues bothering on release of funds to revitalize the tertiary institution is staling negotiations.
ASUU had hinted that its members are ready to resume work if the federal government pays their outstanding salaries.
But Nigeria’s labour and employment minister, Chris Ngige, said on Wednesday that the federal government cannot meet the request of the striking union concerning funds for revitalization of the tertiary institutions due to the present economic situation in the country.
Part of ASUU’s demand is N110bn for what it called the revitalization of tertiary institutions in the country.
Ngige told journalists after a closed-door meeting with ASUU members in Abuja that the federal government had offered N20bn which he said was what it can afford.
He said “This government is not against revitalization but this government says that because of dare economic situation, because of COVID-19, we cannot really pay in the N110 billion which they are demanding for revitalization.”
However, the Ibadan zonal coordinator of the union, Professor Ade Adejumo, told pressmen that despite the ongoing negotiation with the federal government, the authorities have refused to pay their salaries and allowances.
He said ASUU has beeen on strike because of the survival of the university system in Nigeria
“ASUU is on strike in order to restore the past glory of public universities and address infrastructural decay and deficit in our institutions. ASUU is on strike for the legitimate dues of its members who are the least paid in the tertiary education sub-sector,” he said.
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