ASUU STIKE UPDATE:FG presents proof of N200bil Deposit

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.”