ASUU Update: FG Provided Proof of Payment evidence

Government is not interested in a witch-hunt;  we are more interested in compliance and in the resolution of the crisis.The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said while briefing the journalists

He also said  that many senior Nigerians, institutions and organisations, including labour unions such as the Nigerian Labour Congress  and the Trade Union Congress,  as well as  royal fathers have intervened and have pleaded with  the government to soft pedal on the issue of  ultimatum.”

Asked if  the government was serious about the ultimatum in the first place, he  replied  “Yes.”

Okupe   explained  that the  government was    forced to issue  the ultimatum because every other avenue to end the strike had been explored to no avail.

 He said, “I said it before that governments worldwide, when pushed to the wall take  steps that may be draconian but sometimes, they have to be taken in order to protect the citizens and the states they govern.”

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He said, “There is no face-off between the  government and ASUU.

“ASUU may be grandstanding but the  government is more interested in the resolution than in any form of confrontation with any union whatsoever.

“This government is interested in good governance, orderliness and peaceful coexistence nationwide and among all sectors of the economy and that education is not left behind.”

While giving further evidence that   the N200bn had been paid, Okupe released  a copy of the letter written by the Deputy Governor of CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo,  to the Accountant General of the Federation, to journalists.

The letter, with reference GVD/DGO/GEN/MPA/05/151 and dated December 10, 2013, reads in part, “Confirmation of the execution of your mandates for the credit of account No: 00200xx522, Revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure Account.

“I write to confirm the execution of the following mandates by the CBN for funding of the above mentioned account as follows:

1. Mandate FDL/LP201340/1/30/DF: N129,300,000,000:00

2. Mandate FD/FA/124/Vol X11/120/1DF: N20,700,000,000:00

3. Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/DF :N50,000,000,000:00

“I wish to further confirm  that the available balance in the aforementioned account is N200bn  (two hundred billion naira) only.

 “Please accept the assurances of my best regards.”