Education
“FG is working hard to prevent another ASUU strike” – Minister
The minister of state for labour and employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed that the Federal Government is making every effort to prevent another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
According to reports, Hon. Onyejeocha revealed this during her 17th annual free medical outreach, scheduled from October 16th to 19th, 2024, at Isuochi, Abia State.
Onyejeocha expressed hope that ASUU’s concerns would be addressed shortly.
She stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s numerous reforms and initiatives are intended to address Nigeria’s numerous economic problems holistically, from the ground up, and offer a long-term solution.
She asserts that even if the early effects of the reforms may be unpleasant, Nigerians will still benefit in the long run.
Remember that ASUU gave the government a 14-day ultimatum last week to pay the outstanding four months’ worth of unpaid salaries.
These were unpaid salaries owned to its members during the 2020 countrywide strike.
Additionally, the union requests that the government take its members out of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel System (IPPS).
The body also demands migration to the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS).
Among other things, it asks that the remaining earned allowance be paid.
The minister further promised that the government was working with organized labor in order to prevent another strike.
She said: ”For the ASUU strike, it’s being sorted out, and I know that very soon, those issues will be resolved.
She disclosed that there have been a meeting between the government and NLC in order to prevent another strike.
“On the looming nationwide strike, we met with the NLC leadership on wednesday and we had fruitful deliberations.
“We were able to tell them the state of the nation.
“It’s good to let the organised labour know what the government is doing”, she stated.
She clarified that some unpleasant steps had to be implemented in order to save the economy from collapsing completely.
The minister urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s efforts to reinvest in the nation’s economy and to exercise patience.
She further said: “We can’t fold our hands and expect manner to fall from heaven.
“The president is trying to fix things.
“The decisions we are making are not easy but they are ultimately for our good as a country.
” Some of the things causing the hunger were what the government of the day inherited.
“People who were here before did not take appropriate actions to say stop where they should say stop.
” But now President Tinubu has said that this haemorrhage has to stop.
“We can’t continue to pay fuel subsidy.
” So, that’s the pain that everybody is going through, and I don’t think we should fold our hands and continue this way.
“It’s not all about providing subsidies because.
“If you provide subsidy to the extent that you don’t have a country, what happens?
” Previous governments right from ex-President Obasanjo were borrowing to pay subsidies.
“It’s like you are spending what you don’t have.
“For how long will that continue?
“We are blessed in this country, and this is the time for us to right the wrongs so we can enjoy the blessings of God.
“And that’s what President Tinubu is doing.
” But we have resolved that this is our country.
“We must take certain decisions, even though they’re hurting, we want NNPC to get back on its feet to be able to contribute to the budget of the federal government.
“When that is done, all these complaints about hunger will be a thing of the past”, she stated.
The minister added that the President Tinubu administration was working harder to combat farmer relocation and insecurity.
” Government is taking seriously the issue of security.
“If you have security, farmers will go back to farming.
“We plead that Nigerians should put their hands together to support the President in his reforms.
“We are looking towards a nation where there will be prosperity for everybody”, she added.
According to Onyejeocha, the days of assigning blame were ended.
She also exhorted Nigerians to back President Tinubu regardless of their political views.
” If we continue to talk about party we will plunge into disaster.
“We are not blaming anybody.
“The President has said that he solicited for the job.
“He had no regrets.
“He said he had inherited everything and would make sure he did the right things.
“So, what APC is focusing on now is to get things right”, she concluded.
Again, she emphasized that some difficult steps had to be taken in order to prevent another strike.
During the free medical outreach, a group of 40 medical professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, optometrists, nurses, and laboratory scientists, sponsored by Onyejeocha were on the ground to treat a huge number of patients at Amuda Isuochi.
According to team lead Dr. Humble Chimaobi, team members were putting in a lot of effort to reach their daily goal of 120 patients and 100 surgical cases.
He praised the minister for enlisting their assistance in providing the public with high-quality healthcare.
In order to help the underprivileged access healthcare, Onyejeocha reportedly pledged to keep funding free medical outreach.
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