President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly written to university lecturers over the ongoing ASUU strike.
The president, on Friday, told tertiary institution-based unions, including the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), that the Federal Government is not ready to sign any agreement that cannot be implemented.
Buhari explained this in Abuja during his speech at the last budget presentation to the Joint Session of the National Assembly.
He stated that the government could only remain committed to implementing employee union agreements within available resources.
President Buhari wrote:
“The government notes with dismay the crisis that has paralysed activities in the public universities in the country.
“We expect the staff of these institutions to show a better appreciation of the current state of affairs in the country.
“In the determined effort to resolve the issue, we have provided a total of 470.0 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for revitalization and salary enhancements in the tertiary institutions.
“Distinguished Senators and Honourable members, it is instructive to note that today Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.
“In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education.
“The government remains committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources.
“This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement.
“Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector.
“Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels. Recently, we implemented various incentives aimed at motivating and enhancing teachers’ development in our schools.
“In the health sector, the government intends to focus attention on equipping existing hospitals and rehabilitating infrastructure. Emphasis will also be on local production of basic medicines/vaccines.
“As human capital is the most critical resource for national development, our overall policy thrust is to expand our investment in education, health and social protection.”
President Muhammadu Buhari – Nigeria President
On Friday, the Abuja Court of Appeal also ordered members of ASUU to resume work immediately.
The court ruled on the varsity union’s application to appeal against the order of the National Industrial Court, which asked the striking lecturers to resume duty.
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The Court also granted ASUU “conditional leave to appeal the order of the Industrial Court while insisting that ASUU must obey the lower court order from today, October 7”.
The 3-man panel, led by Justice Hamman Barka, stipulated that ASUU must show evidence that its members have resumed work immediately before it can file a notice of appeal within seven days.
Failure to adhere to the order the panel will make the appeal incompetent before the Court of Appeal.
