‘ASUU distributing pamphlets abusing me in mosques’

The Federal Government yesterday advised the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to
end its four-month old strike by rethinking its
"take-it-or-leave-it approach to negotiation".
Talks between the government and the
teachers broke down when ASUU accused the
government of being uninterested in
implementing the 2009 agreement.
In a statement yesterday, Coordinating
Minister for the Economy and Minister of
Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, accused
ASUU leaders of "distributing pamphlets and
flyers with abusive and inflammatory messages
against the Finance minister in mosques and
other places"
The minster described ASUU action as "taking
academic unionism to a new low and infusing
it with unnecessary politics".
The statement added that the messages
contained in the pamphlets and flyers "are
directed at using falsehood to demonise the
minister as callous and unsympathetic to the
plight of students and parents".
The major lie being peddled in the pamphlets
and flyers is that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has
insisted on a "take-it-or-leave-it approach" in
the negotiations with ASUU.
Contrary to some recent media reports, the
Federal government the statement said, has
not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in
its negotiations with ASUU.
Rather, the government's "approach is focused
on positive engagement and achieving
sustainable solutions to the challenges facing
higher education in the country".
It said government "has demonstrated its
commitment to improving the university
system. And it is even ready to do much more
going forward. ASUU should listen to the voice
of reason and the yearnings of Nigerians on
this issue.
"Government is working hard to seek practical
and sustainable solutions to the challenges
facing higher education in Nigeria."
"Already, President Goodluck Jonathan has
made available N100 billion a year, in the first
instance, to repair hostels, laboratories and
classrooms and other facilities. An offer has
also been made to ASUU of N30 billion
towards their earned allowances. In fact,
negotiations have even gone further than this."
The statement added: "It is the first time, in
years of negotiating with government, that
significant sums of money have been put on
the table for ASUU and universities on this
particular set of issues and the coordinating
minister is fully part of this."