ASUU Strike: Union Says FG Hasn't Informed Them Of Cash Deficit

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that they have not been informed of the federal government's inability to meet their demands.

The disclosure was a response to the recent comments by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo; and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi who both stated that it was not reasonable for the federal government to borrow over N1 trillion to meet the union's demands.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, ASUU National President Emmanuel Osodeke stated that those saying the government doesn't have money are interlopers with no business in the affairs of the union and the government.

“Do you believe the FG has no money? Is Umahi the FG? Has the Minister of Education said so? Has the Minister of Finance said so?

"If the person directed to resolve a matter has not said so when interlopers are saying things, who will you believe?

“When did Umahi become the spokesperson for the FG?

"They can borrow money for Trader Moni, they can borrow money to feed schoolchildren in schools, they can borrow to buy vehicles for Niger Republic, but they cannot borrow to fund education.

"We are tired too. If they want to close down all the universities formally, they should", he said.

Osodeke was then asked if ASUU would bend its demands so that students could return to their schools and he responded that the government ought to return to the negotiation table to tackle the impasse between both parties.

“It is not about ASUU bending its demands; our demands are with the government. They should come to us with what they want.

"We don’t have to beg them. We agreed on something and let them send it to us. We have reached a negotiation. Let them come and tell us what they can do."

Speaking on the 2023 election on Thursday, Osodeke urged students to vote out those who have subjected them to their present suffering.

"We also appeal to Nigerians. This matter concerns their lives. In the next five to six months, there will be an election.

"They should hold their PVCs, and all those who have subjected them to this, they should vote them out."