The Federal Government on Wednesday explained contrary to the believe out there, the issues surrounding the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other three university based unions were not as simple as they would want Nigerians to believe.
The Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that ASUU has been on strike since 14th February, over unresolved issues with the federal government with all the public universities shut down till date.
Besides ASUU, 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and Associated Institutions, (NASU) as well as the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have also withdrawn their services over the alleged government insensitivity to their demands.
The minister while responding to a question on why the council approved the establishment of e-learning centers for primary school but was unable to resolve problems with unions in the public universities, said the issue with the unions was not as simple as many may think.
According to him, the government was also worried over the prolong closure of the public universities and was making frantic efforts to ensure that all the contentious issues are resolved.
Mohammed, who briefed on behalf of the Minister of Education said, “And then the other question that has to do with ASUU strike. I think if I remember this e-learning, I think has to do more with primary schools and not universities.
“And I don’t think because we’re having challenges with the university lectures, we should stop primary school students in continuing with their education.
“And 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’re 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 Union.
“We’re worried we’re concerned, and we’ll continue to work towards finding an early resolution of the problem.”
Mohammed said the council approved the establishment of e-learning centers for primary schools across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He said, “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.
“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.”
Credit: Daily Sun