By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
As Nigerians continue to decry the incessant strike actions by the Academics Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) especially the on-going “One Month Warning Strike”, the country’s Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu is evasive over the quick resolution of the issues at stake between the Federal Government and ASUU.
Adamu who spoke to State House Correspondents on the ASUU warning strike after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday said he does not know when the matter between ASUU and federal government of Nigeria will be resolved.
He also did not know if government can reach an agreement with ASUU before the end of the 30-day warning strike, with the Union threatening an indefinite strike should nobody talk to them at the end of the warning strike.
“I wouldn’t know. I can’t give you time. I am ready to reach an agreement with ASUU now but since I’m not the only one, I can’t give you time. But certainly we are going to reach an agreement very soon”, the Minister said.
According to him: “unfortunately, they have gone on strike and I am looking for them because all the issues are being addressed. The last thing that happened was that our committee looked at their demands but there are renegotiations going on”.
“They submitted a draft agreement which the ministry is looking at. A committee is looking at it. Immediately it finishes, the government is meant to announce what it has accepted”.
“Then suddenly, I heard them going on strike. We want a peaceful resolution. The federal government is ready to meet them on all issues they have raised and if there are so many meetings and the gap is not closing, then I think it’s not the fault of the government”.
However, the Minister disclosed that: “There is a solution to this. The negotiations are the solution and that is why I have said that I am surprised that ASUU has gone on strike”.
….. FEC Approves N4.9bn For NECO
In another development, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has revealed that FEC has approved the sum of N4,965,986,573.89 printing contacts for National Examination Council (NECO) for the procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Minister who briefed State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC stated inter lia:
“Today, the memo we presented from the Ministry of Education is a printing contract by NECO for the senior school certificate examination and the beneficiaries are nine contractors and the amount is N4,965,986,573.89. And it will be completed in eight weeks”.
“And it is for the printing of sensitive, non-sensitive equipment and other ancillary equipment for the examination”.
Also, Adamu who was asked questions on the rationale behind the controversial Cut-off marks in the university admissions said he has nothing to say about the policy of the federal government.
Said he: “I have nothing to say on that. I am not aware of any difference unless it is meant to satisfy the requirements of Federal character. I think federal character is a principle in the nation and it is accepted. There probably nothing you can do about that. There would probably come a time when it would not be necessary”.
