ASUU strike: FG approves over N35.4bn, to resume talks on Thursday

Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka has confirmed that there is an ongoing meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, adding that the government is doing everything possible to end the strike.

Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwuka Asked when ASUU may likely return to the classrooms, he said: “I don’t know, but we are discussing with them.” ASUU had twelve days ago at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Ondo State declared indefinite strike over the Federal Government refusal to honour its 2009 agreements it freely entered with the Union. Besides, the N1.1 trillion expected from the Federal Government to fund education in Nigerian public universities, ASUU is equally asking for the government to address some lingering issues in the University of Ilorin, Lagos State University and Kwara State University, among others. Meanwhile, the Minister while presenting his speech during the 5th Lafarge National Literacy Competition, said that literacy improves the future of everyone in society, adding, “it’s critical to individual, community and national economic development.” The Minister who commended Lafarge Africa for taking literacy to the grassroots and also giving children from the rural areas the opportunity to compete with their colleagues and age mates from the urban areas, said it would sharpen their skills and improve self confidence, which is essential to their development and future prospects. He said : “It is note worthy that the competition has run for five years across Nigeria with a wider impact and reach every year, working with the SUBEBS, UBEC and Federal Ministry of Education at State and senatorial district levels across Nigeria. ” Federal Govern