Nigeria Can’t Borrow Money To Meet ASUU Demands

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said on Friday, the Federal Government cannot borrow money to stop the months-long strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Keyamo said this while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “Should we go and borrow to pay N1.2 trillion yearly?

“You cannot allow one sector of the economy to hold you by the jugular and then blackmail you to go and borrow N1.2 trillion for overheads when our total income would be about N6.1 trillion. And you have roads to build, health centres to build, other sectors to take care of.” he said.

“Like the President said the other time, those who know them, appeal to their sense of patriotism,” he said, while calling on parents across Nigeria to beg ASUU to end the strike.

“Let them go back to classes. They are not the only ones in Nigeria. They are not the only ones feeding from the federal purse. The nation cannot grind to a halt because we want to take care of the demands of ASUU.” he added.

Nexus News recalls that on March 14, the union extended the strike by two more months to enable the government to fulfill the union’s demands. However, a 12-week extension was declared on May 9. The union has since then remained on strike until their demands are met.

Recall that the academic union is striving for improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.