ASUU: Reps Summons Finance, Education Ministers As Fresh Strike Looms

 

The House of Representatives has wielded into the controversy between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

 

This comes after ASUU threatened to embark on another strike action.

 

The lawmakers have now invited the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and the Minister of Finance, Budget National Planning, Zainab Ahmed over the recent threat.

 

Recall that ASUU on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja, gave the FG three-week ultimatum to address the agreement they entered into in 2020 or risk another.

 

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila announced the invitation after the green chamber adopted a motion by Julius Ihovbare.

 

Gbajabiamila emphasized that funds had to be released to universities to forestall more strikes in the interest of students and the entire country.

 

Hon. Ihovbare asserted that the federal government had not been forthcoming to honour the agreements it signed with the ASUU in December 2020 contained in the memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties.

 

He said: “The federal government has not been quite forthcoming, neither has it attached any consistent seriousness to the urgent need to reposition and refocus the education sector in line with our developmental objectives.”

Supporting the motion, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia) said the government should live up to its responsibilities and fulfil the agreements it reached with ASUU.

 

Similarly, the House Chief Whip, Muhammed Tahir Monguno urged the House to take a look at the possibility of increasing the annual budget for education.