The Federal Government yesterday presented proof of deposit into the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, of the contentious N200 billion meant for the funding of the universities as demanded by the ASUU.
The government also said that having fulfilled its own side of the bargain, it expected ASUU to keep to its own promise and call off the strike.
In a press conference in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said that it was necessary for the government to proof to Nigerians that following the presidential intervention on the ongoing strike by the lecturers, President Goodluck Jonathan instructed the fulfillment of the agreement with ASUU.
Okupe said: “On November 13, 2013, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation authorised the banking and payment system department of the Central Bank of Nigeria via a letter with reference number FD/OAGF/220/ ADC/1/4DF to open a ‘revitalisation of Universities Infrastructural Account’ with the CBN.
“On November 29, 2013, the CBN confirmed in a letter reference BPSD/BSD/ CON VOL 17/088 to the Accountant- General of the Federation that the said account had been opened and an account number was given.
“Prior to all this, the Director of Funds in the Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation through a letter reference FD/LP2008/37/C/I/DF dated November 8, communicated with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission requesting for the list of federal universities in Nigeria for the purpose of opening a special account for them.
“On November 12, 2013, the NUC through the Office of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, in a letter reference NUC/ES/444/ VOL15/280 responded to the request and gave the list of the universities with their various account numbers domiciled with the CBN.”
He said that following this development, the accountant- general had communicated with the executive secretary, requesting for the details of amount payable to each of the listed universities currently being processed by the NUC.
“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 ongoing administrative processes are sorted out.
“Distinguished gentlemen, we want to reaffirm that the President and this administration have no credibility issues whatsoever. Mr. President has always honoured his words and obligations to the Nigerian people as and at when due.”
Okupe said that given due considerations to the four items mentioned by ASUU as preconditions to their calling off the strike, the Federal Government stated that none of them remained weighty enough to justify the continuation of the strike.
“Therefore, there are no further legitimate reasons for the strike by university teachers to continue a day any longer.
“We, therefore, call on Dr. Nasir Fagge, his distinguished colleagues in the ASUU leadership and other patriotic members of their union to put all else aside and call off this strike in the interest of our young men and women who have been kept out of school for five months and who have no recourse to any form of compensation whatsoever.
“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. There are no victor or vanquished in this protracted disagreement.”
Various branches of ASUU are still at loggerheads with university authorities over the deadline issued by the Federal Government to lecturers to resume by December 9 or face sack.
At the University of Jos, the branch chapter of the union and the authorities are on collusion course over the government’s directive.
The university in compliance with the Federal Government’s position had through a statement signed by the Registrar, Mr. Jilli Dandam, directed lecturers to resume work immediately
But the branch Chairman of ASUU, Dr. David Jangkam, who addressed journalists in Jos yesterday dismissed the directive and advised parents and students not to be deceived by the management “as the union will not succumb to any sack threat from any quarter”.
Jangkam stated that ASUU UNIJOS could not be cowed or perturbed by the threat from the minister of education and other agents of government.
He added that they would remain resolute, determined and committed to the struggle and would not waver from the strike until the Federal Government do the right.
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday said that the death of its former President, Prof. Festus Iyayi, would not be in vain.
It also insisted that the ongoing struggle would be fought to its logical conclusion.
Speaking with journalists after a procession in honour of the ex-union leader at the institution, the Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said ASUU would continue to fight for the emancipation of the Nigerian education sector and the masses.
The day started with a procession of academics clad in ceremonial gowns around the school with a big banner bearing the picture of the late Iyayi whom the union described as a patriot.
The procession was led by Ajiboye, who extolled the virtues of Iyayi as a dogged fighter of the defenseless and a pillar of qualitative education in Nigeria.
He describing Iyayi as a committed unionist and detribalised Nigerian who had fought for the emancipation of standard of education and the rights of Nigerians.
Ajiboye said that Iyayi had paid the supreme price to see that Nigeria was revitalised.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed hope that what Iyayi stood for were not allowed to perish.
He said it was the hope of the late Iyayi that education was well funded, laboratories equipped and roads rehabilitated.
Rights activist, Mr. Femi Aborisade, said the death of Iyayi was a challenge to ASUU, stating that the union should mount campaign against the use of sirens on Nigerian roads.
He explained that those who used sirens were wasting “our resources and enough is enough.”
Aborisade, who commended ASUU for fighting a just cause, said there should not be retreat or surrender.
He added that any retreat or surrender by the union was a betrayal for the cause whichIyayi died for.
Meanwhile, the funeral of the late Iyayi began yesterday in Benin with a solidarity march by members of ASUU and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.
Members of the UNIBEN branch were joined by hundreds of colleagues from the University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, Ambrose Alli University, AAU, and Delta State University, DELSU, in Abraka.
Other groups represented at the forum included the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations, CONGOs; the Joint Action Front, JAF and the Parents Consultative Association of Nigerian Universities, PCANU.
The long walk began at about 10a.m. at the Faculty of Business Administration which Iyayi led last as Head of Department and took the mourners through a distance of about five kilometres to the residence of the late psrofessor of Business Administration at Bello Street, off Benin-Lagos Expressway.
Addressing people at Iyayi’s residence, Chairman of UNIBEN ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina, described the late lecturer as a fallen hero of the Nigerian nation and one of ASUU past struggles.
Recalling the journey that claimed the life of Iyayi, Monye-Emina said the journey began on a pleasant note that morning with Iyayi relieving the last meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan before urging them to show true commitment to the struggle.
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, urged ASUU against relenting in the struggle but to continue where Iyayi left.
He vowed to challenge the display of recklessness by government officials on highways, noting that ASUU and the Iyayi family had mandated him to challenge the “murder” of Iyayi in court. Chairman of ASUU, University of Ilorin chapter, Dr. TaiwoOloruntoba-Oju, said the late Iyayi had cloned many other Iyayis when he was alive, who were now being expected to carry on the fight.
He said the only way to ensure that what Iyayi fought for was not allowed to die with him was by sustaining the struggle of the striking lecturers for a better learning environment.
He said if the Federal Government truly respected Iyayi, they should go ahead to implement the agreement they signed with Iyayi and other ASUU officials before now instead of merely shifting the directed date of resumption for the lecturers.
Other speakers also eulogisedIyayi, insisting that his death had actually immortalised him. They all resolved to carry on the battle to free Nigerian education from the shackles of enslavement.
Eldest son of Iyayi, Engr. Ehidiamen, who received the mourners on behalf of the family, thanked them for the support they had given to the family since the death of their father.
It will be recalled that Omar had criticised the Federal Government for its inability to reconstruct the Lokoja-Abuja Highway, while blaming the death of Iyayi partly on corruption. Omar, who led a delegation of labour union to Edo State on a condolence visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the Iyayi family, described the late lecturer as a committed activist who added value to the labour movement in the country.
Omar said: “We believe that certain factors led to the demise of Prof. Iyayi. The Federal Government is highly culpable on the issue of the criminal neglect of the Abuja- Lokoja Road, which contract was awarded over 10 years ago. While other roads have been completed, the Lokoja- Abuja road has remained uncompleted.
“We believe that if not for the criminal neglect, this accident would not have happened. Also the executive recklessness on the part of the Kogi State Government is glaring. This is said to be the third time that the same convoy is getting involved in an accident,” he lamented.
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