The federal government on Thursday has spoken following the inconclusive meeting with the Academic staff union of universities, ASUU.
DAILY GIST reports that the meeting between the two warring parties ended in deadlock on Tuesday.
Speaking on development on Thursday, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said it is the responsibility of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to compensate students for the time wasted during the six-month strike, not the federal government.
He also said the government will not concede to the union’s demand to pay lecturers their emoluments for the six months of no academic activities.
He suggested that the affected students should “take ASUU to court” to claim damages incurred over the strike period.
He disclosed that five of the university-based unions will likely call off their strike within the next one week while that of ASUU remains uncertain.
Adamu disclosed this at the 47th Session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the federal government bears no liability to compensate millions of students grounded for six months over lost time.
He also said if the students are determined to get compensated, they should take ASUU to court.
Adamu argued that in spite of the N2.5 trillion expended on education by President Buhari’s administration through the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) as well as Universal Basic Education (UBEC), surpassing the N1.2 trillion demanded by ASUU, lecturers have maintained their position to embark on a needless strike.
However, he, noted that ASUU had begun consultations with their members to determine whether to call off their strike as well.
DAILY GIST reported that ASUU had commenced nationwide strike on February 14th 2022, citing different demands which the FG had failed to meet as its reasons.
Some of the demands include, payments of salary arrears, better working conditions, renegotiation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, payment of earned academic allowances, funds for the revitalization of public universities, promotion arrears, and poor funding of state universities.
