Akpan said the association’s concerns about the strike had earned NANS a lot of blackmail by ASUU which accused the students’ body of working for the government. “We don’t believe that they are fighting for the Nigerian students or the restructuring of the education sector. We realize that the only thing they discuss when they get to the negotiation table are earned allowance and salary shortfall,” he said. But the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, yesterday said the Federal Government had made a breakthrough in its negotiations with the striking lecturers, raising the hope that the students may still participate in the elections. Adamu, who disclosed this at the seventh edition of the Weekend Ministerial Press Briefing, said
ASUU would call off the lingering industrial action today (Monday). According to the minister, an agreement has been reached with members of the union who are expected to call off the strike without any further delay. “Government team has reached agreement with ASUU. It is my hope that academic activities will also resume in universities campuses across the country without further delay,” he noted. Adamu also commended the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) for calling off their strike to allow students get back to classes. He assured the union that the government would reciprocate the gesture by fulfilling all terms of agreement reached with COEASU. The minister announced that government had virtually resolved all issues concerning the strike by polytechnic lecturers, adding that they would also call off the strike very soon. “Government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in its public tertiary institutions and has directed the minister of finance to source additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for the purpose, with particular reference to polytechnics and colleges of education. “The National Board for Technical Education has been directed to strengthen its regulatory mechanism, including developing a new template for accreditation to address observed weaknesses and to ensure that proprietors of polytechnics, including states and private owners meet their obligations to their staff. “Arrears and shortfalls in salary are being addressed across board. To this end, government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding arrears.
Disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation,” he noted. Adamu noted that the Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) allocated a total of N727,225,862,128.86 worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructural development in tertiary institutions in four years.
ASUU would call off the lingering industrial action today (Monday). According to the minister, an agreement has been reached with members of the union who are expected to call off the strike without any further delay. “Government team has reached agreement with ASUU. It is my hope that academic activities will also resume in universities campuses across the country without further delay,” he noted. Adamu also commended the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) for calling off their strike to allow students get back to classes. He assured the union that the government would reciprocate the gesture by fulfilling all terms of agreement reached with COEASU. The minister announced that government had virtually resolved all issues concerning the strike by polytechnic lecturers, adding that they would also call off the strike very soon. “Government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in its public tertiary institutions and has directed the minister of finance to source additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for the purpose, with particular reference to polytechnics and colleges of education. “The National Board for Technical Education has been directed to strengthen its regulatory mechanism, including developing a new template for accreditation to address observed weaknesses and to ensure that proprietors of polytechnics, including states and private owners meet their obligations to their staff. “Arrears and shortfalls in salary are being addressed across board. To this end, government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding arrears.
Disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation,” he noted. Adamu noted that the Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) allocated a total of N727,225,862,128.86 worth of investment in critical areas of infrastructural development in tertiary institutions in four years.
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