ASUU: FG Yet To Release N100bn ToUniversities01.11.2013, 7:21

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.
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