Owerri - The Governing Council of the
Federal University of Technology Owerri
(FUTO), has appealed to the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to end
their strike.
Dr Emmanuel Enemuo, Pro Chancellor and
Chairman of the council, made the appeal
on Saturday at a news conference in
Owerri.
Enemuo noted that the Federal
Government had demonstrated
commitment to addressing the most
contentious issues in the 2009 agreement.
He explained that government had
approved the payment of earned
allowances and revitalisation of
universities through adequate funding with
the release of N130 billion.
He said further that government also
promised to pay any shortfalls after due
verification by the councils of the various
universities.
Emeno said that the funds already released
were sourced from different government
agencies such as the Central bank, the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC) and the National Communications
Commission (NCC).
He stated that the government had
promised to make provision for further
intervention in the 2014 appropriation bill
and urged ASUU to reciprocate the gesture
by going back to classes.
The pro-chancellor disclosed that the
governing council of FUTO had decided to
pay earned allowances to its deserving
staff.
He said a management committee had
been constituted to determine the actual
earned allowances to be paid to individual
staff of the university.
“The council, in consideration of the efforts
and commitment of the Federal
Government, hereby appeal to ASUU to call
off the strike and resume work so that our
children can return to school.”
“ASUU should reciprocate the gesture of
the federal government by ending this
strike and return to the classrooms in the
interest of our children and the university
system,” he said.
- NAN


SOURCE: m.news24.com/nigeria/National/News/Council-urges-ASUU-to-end-strike-20131005