Protracted ASUU strike: Issue with unions not as simple as many think, says FG

The issues surrounding the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and three other university-based unions are not as simple as they would want Nigerians to believe, the Federal Government has said.

The Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Wednesday that the government is “worried over the prolong closure” of the public universities and is making frantic efforts to ensure that all the contentious issues are resolved.

He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buharibat the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Persecondnews recalls that ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over unresolved issues with the federal government.

Also, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Union of Universities and Associated Institutions NASU) as well as the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have also withdrawn their services over what they called government “insensitivity” to their demands.

Mohammed, who briefed the media on behalf of the Minister of Education said: “I wish that the ASUU issue is as simple as many of us think it is. I don’t think it’s that simple. But I want to assure you that a lot is going on behind the scenes.

“And I think probably the Minister of Education will be better positioned to give the details. But like any government, if we are not concerned, we would not set up all the committees which have been working.

“If we are not concerned we will not be looking for means to even assuage the feelings of the unions.

“We are worried we are concerned, and we’ll continue to work towards finding an early resolution of the problem.”

On education, Mohammed also disclosed that the Council approved the establishment of e-learning centers for primary schools in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“The Honourable Minister of Education has sought approval from Council for the award of contracts for the provision of a satellite- based education system for 109 e-learning centers across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The contract was for the sum of N964 million and is in favour of Messrs Nas Navigation. The purpose of the memo is to provide each senatorial district in the country with e-learning provision, each states has three senatorial districts and the FCT has one senatorial district.

“The scope of the project is the provision of satellite based education system for about 4,360 users in the 109 senatorial districts and it was through the installation of 109 receiver satellite unit model antenna in three schools in each state.

“Installation and provision of 109 vast mile server in three schools in each state connecting up to 100 device installation of 109 server units for receiver terminals and deployment of 4,360 Android tablets,” Mohammed said.