Some people in ASUU have been distributing flyers with abusive messages against Dr Okonjo-Iweala and now the ministry is issuing a statement about it, saying the minister is not the problem. I'd rather read about when ASUU is calling off this strike to be honest. Find the press statement below
Contrary to some recent media reports, the Federal government has not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in its negotiations with ASUU. Rather, the approach is focused on positive engagement and achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in the country. That is why President Goodluck Jonathan recently appealed to ASUU to respond to government’s positive steps by calling off its strike in the interest of suffering students and parents.
Despite
this, for several days now, some elements in ASUU have been distributing
pamphlets and flyers with abusive and inflammatory messages against the
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala in mosques and other places. This is taking academic unionism to
a new low and infusing it with unnecessary politics. I am sure majority of ASUU
members are not in support of this.
These
messages are directed at using falsehood to demonize 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 Dr Okonjo-Iweala has insisted on a
“take-it-or-leave-it approach” in the negotiations with ASUU. Nothing could be
further from the truth.
Dr
Okonjo-Iweala is the daughter of two retired professors and her father is
presently a member of ASUU’s Board of Trustees and has been one for a long
time. She speaks with her father everyday on the issue so how can be
insensitive to issues concerning the sad state of tertiary education in the
country? She understands and sympathizes with the plight of both students and
lecturers. She wants our children back in school as soon as possible. Remember
she is a mother and two of her young relatives are sitting at home due to the
strike.
This is
why government is working hard, under the leadership of the President, to seek
practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education
in Nigeria. The President 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. This 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. The Coordinating Minister is fully part of this.
Against
this background, ASUU elements who want the strike to continue should have a
heart and rethink their current take-it-or-leave-it approach to negotiation.
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.
Paul C
Nwabuikwu
Special
Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance
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