ASUU strike: FG has not released a kobo out of N100billion intervention fund – Union insists

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has again debunked claims by the Federal government that the sum of N100billion had been disbursed to public universities to improve infrastructure.
According to ASUU, none of the 59 government-owned varsities had received the said sum as reported in some publications.
Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi branch of ASUU, Dr. Celestine Aguoru, stated this yesterday after leading members of the branch on a peaceful march.
The members numbering about 200 converged on the Kenville Parks and Gardens, High Level in Makurdi, the Benue State capital as early as 8.am, chanting solidarity songs.


However, few minutes after they kicked off the march, armed policemen and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrived the scene, blocking them with their vehicles.
The striking lecturers insisted that the action will continue until their demands are met, recalling that they gave government enough time to implement the 2009 agreement.

Aguoru in his address said “As we are talking today, government has not released one kobo out of the N100 billion they claimed they have given the universities; this goes to show the level of insincerity on their part.
“The N100 billion they are talking about is just by word of mouth. All that ASUU is asking is for government to implement the 2009 agreement and stop playing politics with the education of our students.”
“The truth is that government is paying lip service to the development of education in this country and has therefore resorted to playing politics with the education sector and the future of our children.
He said it is unfortunate that majority of the nation’s present leaders attended schools on scholarships, but have refused to extend such benefit to today’s youth.
“Today we are faced with a situation where the amount Nigerians spend yearly to educate their children in Ghana is far more than the yearly budgetary allocation to the education sector”, he continued.
“Our leaders are not being fair to our country. Government should as a matter of priority implement its agreements with ASUU. Nigerians are tired of this deceit; they should remember that if they continue to negate their responsibilities to the people, one day they will certainly give account to God,” the leader added.