ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke has replied governor David Umahi ,and Keyamo, over their recent comments about the ASUU strike, where the governor and minister said that the Federal government cannot borrow 1.1 trillion Naira and give to the striking union. In case you missed that, Click here to read it.
Emmanuel Osodeke who replied both the governor and Minister, disclosed that it seems that funding Education isn’t among the federal government priorities, stating that it’s much easier for the federal government to borrow money for Trader Moni and also buy vehicles for Niger Republic, but can’t borrow to fund education.
Also See: ASUU Strike News: ASUU president Reveals When Last Lecturers were Paid
The president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities further disclosed that they are yet to be notified by the federal government that it does not have money to fund the union’s demands, which pushed the union into embarking on a strike that is lingering for 6 months and still counting.
The President said:
“Honestly speaking, do you believe the FG has no money? Is the governor of Ebonyi state, Gov David Umahi the FG or assigned to resolve this issue between the FG and ASUU? Has the Minister of Education said anything regarding this matter? Has the Minister of Finance said so? If the person directed to resolve a matter has not said anything about this, when interlopers are saying things, who will you believe?
“Can we ask ourselves as Nigerians, when did the governor of Ebonyi state, Umahi become the spokesperson for the Federal government? They can borrow money for Trader Moni, they can borrow money to feed schoolchildren in schools, they can borrow to buy vehicles for Niger Republic, but surprisingly, they cannot borrow to fund education that has kept students at home for more than five (5) months now. We are tired too. If they want to close down all the universities formally, they should.”
When newsmen asked the president whether the striking union (ASUU) would bend its demands so that the students could return to school, Emmanuel Osodeke insisted that the issue had to do with the government’s coming to the renegotiation table with ASUU and provide solution.
Osodeke said;
“It is not about the Academic Staff Union of Universities bending its demands, our demands are with the government. They should come to us with what they want and solution to resolving this issue. We don’t have to beg them. We agreed on something and let them send it to us. We have reached a negotiation. Let them come and tell us what they can do.”
What do you think? Do you that ASUU strike will soon end?
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