ASUU strike: Union rejects FG’s N200bn offer

The end to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union Of Universities, ASUU, might not be in view yet, as the union has rejected the offer of N200 billion by the Federal Government. The government had earlier offered N130 to the protesting lecturers in order to resolve the impasse; the offer was also increased to N150 billion, all of which ASUU rejected, insisting that government must implement the 2009 agreement. The union asserted that going by the 2009 agreement, government is supposed to have injected N500 billion by the end of 2013, with another N500 billion by 2014. Nassarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) branch chairman of the Union, Dr. Thephilus Lagithe stated that the actual amount in the 2009 agreement was N1.3 trillion to be paid over a period of four years. He said, “Recently, they called us and said instead of the 100 billion, we are giving you N150 and recently they said from that 150 billion, they are going to make it 200 billion. But these are just promises. Speaking further, he said, “last year, they were supposed to inject N100 billion and this year N400 billion. Then next year, N500 billion. But from all indication, the government is not even serious about injecting money into the education sector. It said the N100 billion which the government had earlier promised to give the union was supposed to have been paid in 2012. It said if the strike continues to 2014, the money will then rise to N900 billion.