The presidency on Wednesday laboured to prove it
has actually paid the sum of N200bn into an account with the Central Bank of
Nigeria designated for funding the nation’s comatose universities.
The Senior
Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin
Okupe, said at a press briefing in Abuja that the account, a “revitalization of
Universities Infrastructural Account,” was authorized by the office of the
Accountant General of the Federation on November 13.
Arguing that
there were enough reasons for the nation’s striking university lecturers to
return to the classroom, Okupe said, “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 on
going administrative processes are sorted out.”
He said he
wanted to re-affirm that the President and the administration have no
credibility issues whatsoever.
“Mr. President
has always honored his words and obligations to the Nigerian people as and at
when due,” he said.
Okupe dismissed
the four items mentioned by ASUU as preconditions for calling off the strike,
stating that none of them “remain substantially pending or weighty enough to
justify” the continuation of the strike even one day longer.
“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,” he said.
“There are no victor or vanquished in this protracted disagreement.”
The federal
government last week indicated it would fire the striking teachers today, but
ASUU yesterday ignored the threat, opting to continue.
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