FG Confirms N200bn ASUU Funds, Withdraws Ultimatum

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has released  a copy of the letter written by the Deputy Governor of CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo,  to the Accountant General of the Federation, to journalists.

The letter, with reference GVD/DGO/GEN/MPA/05/151 and dated December 10, 2013, reads in part, “Confirmation of the execution of your mandates for the credit of account No: 00200xx522, Revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure Account.

“I write to confirm the execution of the following mandates by the CBN for funding of the above mentioned account as follows:

1. Mandate FDL/LP201340/1/30/DF: N129,300,000,000:00

2. Mandate FD/FA/124/Vol X11/120/1DF: N20,700,000,000:00

3. Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/DF :N50,000,000,000:00

“I wish to further confirm  that the available balance in the aforementioned account is N200bn  (two hundred billion naira) only.

“Please accept the assurances of my best regards.”

Okupe said, “I hereby show the proof of payment to all Nigerians, not only to ASUU and to let the people know that when we say that this administration has no credibility issue, we mean it.

“We have kept our cool; we have taken a lot of insults and all that and things that were disparaging but we are glad to show this proof that this has been done as we said.”

The Presidency Tuesday said the ultimatum given to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to go back to class or lose their jobs was no longer a matter for discussion anymore.

Addressing newsmen, Okupe said “I told you, there has been substantial compliance nationwide. If I say you must return to work on the 9th and 70 per cent of the people that I am talking to have returned to work, that is substantial compliance.”

Confirming the payment of the N200bn by the Federal Government into the “Revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure” account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Okupe said the Federal Government  was soft pedalling on the threat to sack the defiant ASUU members  because  many senior citizens and institutions had intervened.

According to him, as of Sunday evening, government had reports that   there was substantial compliance by many lecturers   with the directive and  the development  encouraged  the  government   to mellow down on its earlier tough stance.

Citing the University of Lagos as  an   example  of  a public university  where   in  the   Faculties of Law, Arts and Science,  out of 100  lecturers,  “ between  60 and 70 signed up to resume work.”

He also added that “virtually all the universities in the country, including the Obafemi Awolowo  University and University of  Ibadan.”

He said, “What becomes of the remaining 30 per cent  who did not return to work, these are issues that we do not want to stop the wheel of progress in sorting out this resolution. We are not interested in a witch-hunt;  we are more interested in compliance and in the resolution of the crisis.

Many senior Nigerians, institutions and organisations, including labour unions such as the Nigerian Labour Congress  and the Trade Union Congress,  as well as  royal fathers have intervened and have pleaded with  the government to soft pedal on the issue of  ultimatum, Okupe noted.

The Presidential aide said worldwide, when pushed to the wall take  steps that may be draconian but sometimes, they have to be taken in order to protect the citizens and the states they govern.”

“Our interest is to ensure good governance, orderliness and peaceful coexistence nationwide and among all sectors of the economy and that education is not left behind.”

Additional content from Punch Newspaper