THE TRUTH ABOUT GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON ASUU STRIKE, OKONJO-IWEALA IS NOT THE ISSUE

MARTIN NWORAH - Contrary to some recent media reports, the Federal government has not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in its negotiations with ASUU. Rather, the approach is focused on positive engagement and achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in the country.
That is why...
President Goodluck Jonathan recently appealed to ASUU to respond to government's positive steps by calling off its strike in
the interest of suffering students and parents. Despite this, for
several days now, some elements in ASUU have been distributing
pamphlets and flyers with abusive and inflammatory messages against
the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in mosques and other places. This is taking
academic unionism to a new low and infusing it with unnecessary
politics. I am sure majority of ASUU members are not in support of
this.

These messages are directed at using falsehood to
demonize the Minister as callous and
unsympathetic to the plight of students and
parents. The major lie being peddled in the
pamphlets and flyers is that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has
insisted on a "take-it-or-leave-it approach" in the
negotiations with ASUU. Nothing could be
further from the truth.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the daughter of two retired
professors and her father is presently a member of
ASUU's Board of Trustees and has been one for a
long time. She speaks with her father everyday on
the issue so how can be insensitive to issues
concerning the sad state of tertiary education in the
country? She understands and sympathizes with
the plight of both students and lecturers. She
wants our children back in school as soon as
possible. Remember she is a mother and two of
her young relatives are sitting at home due to the
strike.
This is why government is working hard, under
the leadership of the President, to seek practical
and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing
higher education in Nigeria. The President has
made available N100 billion a year in the first
instance to repair hostels, laboratories and
classrooms and other facilities. An offer has also
been made to ASUU of N30 billion towards their
earned allowances. In fact, negotiations have even
gone further than this. This is the first time, in
years of negotiating with government, that
significant sums of money have been put on the
table for ASUU and universities on this particular
set of issues. The Coordinating Minister is fully
part of this.
Against this background, ASUU elements who
want the strike to continue should have a heart and rethink their
current take-it-or-leave-it approach to negotiation. Government has
demonstrated its commitment to improving the university system. And it
is even ready to do much more going forward. ASUU should listen to the
voice of reason and the yearnings of Nigerians on this issue.
Paul C Nwabuikwu
Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and
Minister of Finance