The Federal Government, on Thursday, assured the leadership of the House of Representatives and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of its resolve to commence payment of the N30 billion universities revitalisation fund within the next seven days.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, and Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, gave the assurance during a tripartite meeting held at the instance of the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.
Federal Government’s delegation who spoke at the meeting also unveiled plans to sort out the N22 billion Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) component from the education sector budgetary allocation.
In addition, Federal Government said that it was not averse to the deployment of the proposed alternative payment platform University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) developed by ASUU as opposed to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, however, informed the Speaker that the government is waiting for the report of the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) before the next step would be taken.
The tripartite meeting also agreed that the renegotiation of the 2009 N1.3 trillion agreement between the ASUU and Federal Government would commence in a week’s time.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon Gbajabiamila said: “It will be irresponsible of us, as leaders to sit and watch things deteriorate.
“We have to be mindful of the unintended consequences of strike actions that can be far-reaching, knowing how important education is to the children and the future of our country.
“Whatever the issues, strikes cannot continue to be a perennial exercise, strikes cannot be the tool we use at all time but only when things finally break down.
“On the other hand, the government should also not go into agreements it cannot honour.
“While everybody has an equal share of the blame, how to resolve the issue this is the most thing important and that is why we are here.”
Speaking earlier, ASUU President, Professor Victor Emmanuel Osodeke, said some of the issues in contention have been resolved but for the listed.
He said the union had to call for strike action due to the tradition of reneging on agreements by the Federal Government, the last of which was last month, October.
On their part, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said the government was on the verge of releasing funds for the Revitalisation of Universities as well as the EAA.
Having convinced the university trade union to have faith in the promises made by the two Ministers, Hon. Gbajabiamila added, “It will be the best for ASUU to please step down the impending strike since there’s no issue that has been left unresolved.”
The Speaker hoped that resorting to strike actions over issues will be a thing of the past while appealing that statements that will exacerbate matters would be avoided by all parties.
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