Furious ASUU To Keyamo: Mention One Of Our Demands Met By FG

…Expresses disappointment at the minister’s allegations

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has expressed serious disappointment and pains at what it described as “unsubstantiated” allegations and tissues of lies made by the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who expressed the misgivings of ASUU while responding to claims by Keyemo that the Federal Government had no plans to borrow to meet their demands, said that he felt terribly disappointed that Keyamo could make such wild allegations.

He noted that it is difficult to believe that it is the same Keyamo, who was on the street fighting for the poor Nigerians until he joined politics, stressing that it unfortunate that the same person could turn around to fight the Nigerian people.

Osodeke therefore challenged Keyamo to mention one of the things the Federal Government has done on all the issues that led to the ASUU strike, stressing that the minister could as well assist Nigerians to know hoe much has been released for the revitalisation fund for universities as well as how much has been released for the payment of the earned academic allowances?

The ASUU President pointedly said that contrary to claims by Keyamo, the government is yet to release a kobo since the strike by University lecturers began.

He further said; “These people do not have the interest of Nigerians at heart. Nigeria is battling all manner of things. Insecurity, dwindling economy, unemployment, while education is on lockdown.

“I am saying this with all due respect, the government has not released one kobo to any university since the strike started, but you are giving N1.14 billion worth of vehicles to government officials in the Niger Republic,” Osodeke said.

The ASUU President said that contrary to the tissues of lies by Keyamo, the report of the visitation panel which has nothing to do with money whatsoever has not been released.

In the words of Osodeke; “We are in a country where someone who has risen in the legal profession can come out to completely misinform the public. It is so sad and I feel so pained.

“You know why they don’t believe in Nigerians? If their children were to be in our schools, they would have done something.

“We are challenging him to mention one of the things the government has done on all the issues that led to the strike. How much has been released for the revitalisation fund for universities? How much has been released for the payment of the earned academic allowances?

“Has the visitation panel report been released? This is a demand that does not even have to do with money. Have they signed the agreement that was negotiated between their team and ASUU?

“On the issue of IPPIS and UTAS, have the results been made available? These are the questions Nigerians have to ask them. The demands that don’t have to do with money, have they met those demands?

“I am so disappointed. This is someone who was on the street fighting for the poor Nigerians until he joined politics. This same man has turned around to fight the Nigerian people.

“We challenge him to tell the Nigerian people what the government has done concerning the seven demands that were listed. It is so sad, and that is why Nigeria is where it is today,” Osodeke said.