The federal government has denied reports that it has given the minister of education two weeks ultimatum to resolve the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Following a meeting members of the striking union had with president Buhari yesterday, it was widely reported that the president had instructed the minister of labour, Dr Chris Ngige to hands off the negotiations while the minister of education, Adamu Adamu is to take over the negotiations with instructions to conclude them within two weeks.
The presidency denied issuing such an ultimatum to the education minister describing such reports as false and misleading. This denial was contained in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity.
the statement read: “the outcome of the meeting held by President Muhammdu Buhari on Tuesday with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to end the agitations by university unions ought to be beyond spin-doctoring and conjectures. It is a pity that almost all media houses allowed themselves to be deceived by interested sources that are not the authorized spokesmen of government.
“Neither during nor after the meeting was any ultimatum given to the Minister of Education. During the meeting, the Minister of Education requested that the Minister of Labour hands off the negotiation to allow him lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). And he promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, possibly two to three weeks.
“In carrying out this assignment, the Minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved.
“The Presidency is optimistic that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties/stakeholders are not unrealistically obstinate. We appeal to the parties to work together to end the strikes.
“On the part of the administration, all doors remain open for dialogue and the resolution of the issues.
“We appeal to the media not try to spread misinformation. The orchestrated media narratives seeking to present an entirely different picture, attributed to sources, in the last 24 hours are not helpful at all.”
