FG Yet To Release N100bn To Universities Says ASUU

Despite claims by the Federal government that the sum of
N100billion had been disbursed to 59 public universities to
improve infrastructure in the benefitting institutions, the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has alleged
that none of the universities had received the said sum.
This is just as former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon
has appealed to both parties to strike a compromise for the sake
of our children and the country.
Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi
branch of ASUU, Dr. Celestine Aguoru, who spoke yesterday
after leading members of the branch on a peaceful march
around Makurdi town in protest of the lingering Federal
Government/ASUU face-off said: "As we are talking today,
government has not released one kobo out of the N100 billion
they claimed they have given the universities; this goes to show
the level of insincerity of the government.
"The truth is that government is paying lip service to the
development of education in this country and has therefore
resorted to playing politics with the education sector and the
future of our children.
"It is rather unfortunate that majority of those who are leading
us today went to school in their time on scholarships, but today
they do not want our children to benefit from that same
gesture, all because of greed.
"Today we are faced with a situation where the amount
Nigerians spend yearly to educate their children in Ghana is far
more than the yearly budgetary allocation to the education
sector.
"Our leaders are not being fair to our country, government
should as a matter of priority implement its agreements with
ASUU, Nigerians are tired of this deceit; they should
remember that if they continue to negate their responsibilities
to the people, one day they will certainly give account to God."
Meanwhile, General Gowon, who spoke in Lagos at the launch
the first edition of the Shell Nigeria Scholars Forum, for the
beneficiaries of its scholarship argued that one of the parties
must be prepared to yield ground in order to save the education
sector. He said: "I do believe it is time for all lovers of
education to come together and get both the federal
government and ASUU to return to the negotiation table and
resolve all outstanding grievances. Both sides must be willing
to yield ground for the sake of our children and that of our dear
country Nigeria."
In an elaborate ceremony chaired by Gowon, the Country
Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, and Managing Director,
SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, said the forum "would serve as a
meeting place for all beneficiaries of Shell post secondary
scholarship schemes.