The Federal Government has denied the news making rounds that the President after holding Consultative meeting with relevant ministers and stakeholders give the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu two weeks to find solution to the lingering university lecturers trike.
Recall, President Buhari on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with ministers and other government officials over lingering ASUU strike in State House, following threats by Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on a two-day nationwide protest. Aviation workers, and National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) also threatened to down tools over the inability of the government to find solution to the strike.
Read also: Banks, Insurance to Shut Down over ASUU Strike
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement released on Wednesday, said contrary to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the Minister two weeks ultimatum, 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)”
“The outcome of the meeting held by President Muhammadu 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,” Shehu said.
Garba Shehu explained that the Minister of Education will involve all the relevant ministries and agencies whose functions and duties relate to the to matter.
“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.”
He expressed hope that agreement could be reached in no distant time, if all the parties involved would compromise.
He said: “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.”
He appealed to the media to desist from purveying misinformation, but always endeavour to get right information from the right authorities.
“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.”