Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday invited the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, over the recent strike notice by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The ASUU had on Monday threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the federal government refused to fulfil the promises it made to the union as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.
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After the House adopted a motion by Julius Ihovbare, Gbajabiamila emphasized that funds had to be released to universities.
Ihovbare said it appeared the federal government had not been forthcoming to honour the agreements it signed with the ASUU in December 2020.
He said: “The federal government has not been quite forthcoming, neither has it attached any consistent seriousness to the urgent need to reposition and refocus the education sector in line with our developmental objectives.”
Supporting the motion, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia) said the government should live up to its responsibilities and fulfil the agreements it reached with ASUU.
House Chief Whip, Muhammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno) said the House should take a look at the possibility of increasing the budget to education.
Uzoma Nkem Abonta (PDP, Abia) said playing with tertiary education was a recipe for insecurity and instability.
Gbajabiamila directed the clerk of the House to invite them for a meeting in his office over the funds which the federal government had agreed to release for the rehabilitation of universities.
