‘I’m looking for ASUU,’ says Minister, upbeat on FG meeting varsity teachers’ demands

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has assured that the Federal Government and university lecturers will soon reach agreement to end the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

ASUU commenced a one-month warning strike on Monday to press home its demands to the federal government.

Adamu, who briefed the media after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, explained that there is an ongoing re-negotiation with the university teachers, which he hoped would resolve the dispute.

“Certainly, we are going to reach agreement and it will be very soon,” Adamu said.

According to the minister, all the issues that government is discussing with the ASUU are being addressed.

“Unfortunately they have gone on strike and I am just looking for them because all the issues are being addressed.

“The last thing that happened was the committee that looked at their demands; the re-negotiation that is going on.

“They submitted a draft agreement which the ministry is looking at; a committee is looking at it.

“Immediately it finishes, then government will announce what it has accepted.  Then, suddenly I heard them going on strike.  So, actually, I’m looking for ASUU.”

Adamu said that government would want a peaceful resolution to the dispute, adding that “the federal government is ready to meet them on all the issues they have raised and if there are so many meetings and the gap is not closing, I think it is not the fault of government.”

In answer to a question on the disparity in the cut-off marks for pupils who sit entrance examination to unity colleges, Adamu said it exists “to satisfy the conditions of federal character.”  

 He explained that the “federal character is a principle in the nation and it is accepted.

“Probably there is nothing you can do about it.  There will come a time probably when it will not be necessary.”

Meanwhile, the minister has disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N4.97billion printing contract for the National Examination Council (NECO), following a memo presented at the meeting by the Ministry of Education.

He said that the contract was awarded to nine contractors and would be completed in eight weeks.

“It is for the printing of sensitive and non-sensitive equipment and other ancillary equipment for the examination,” he stated.