ASUU UPDATE :F.g provides proof payment to CBN for Asuu

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.