Finance Minister Has Assured ASUU That Govt Is Ready To Pay Now – Lawmaker

Aminu Suleiman, chairman of the tertiary Education Committee of the House of Representatives, has further clarified the agreement reached between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Amid the looming strike action.

The lawmaker said this in a speech on Channels TV on Friday.

In his words: “N200 billion was agreed upon which is to be paid in tranches and that is to commence with the payment of N30 billion. ASUU argued that two months after the agreed debt, the government has not paid a kobo into that agreement.

“That matter was reviewed and the government, through the Minister of Finance, assured that the government is ready to pay now.

“They are only waiting for advice from the ministry for how this money will go round and who will get what,” he added.

Suleiman’s comments came after ASUU agreed to renegotiate a preliminary agreement with the federal government for university revitalization.

Present at the meeting were the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed, and Minister of State for Education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

The meeting was held after ASUU announced that it was considering another strike against unpaid benefits and the revitalization of the university.