The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to meet the demand of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to pay their backlog of salaries if he is elected president.

Though the union embarked on an eight-month strike which ended in October, it has since been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over unpaid salaries, arguing that its members will make up for the lost time in the classroom.

However, Atiku gave the academics an assurance of clearing the backlog during his appearance at The People’s Townhall organised by Channels Television in Abuja on Saturday.

“I’m going to increase the funding level (of education) as against what is currently obtained, no doubt about that because I am a firm and committed believer in education.

“I have undertaken to say, ‘Whatever backlog – we are going to clear all the backlogs and make sure that you go back to classes and students go back to school,” he said.

The former vice president acknowledged the “sometimes invisible roadblocks,” explaining that when the Federal Government releases money for the universities, it does not go straight to the universities.

According to him, the funds are channelled through “another federal bureaucracy” that “might decide to do whatever they want” before the monies are sent to the individual universities.

“Why not remove the bottleneck?” he asked. “Whatever is due to university A, B, C, D, send it directly!”

The PDP candidate recalled an experience during his tenure as vice president between 1999 and 2007, where according to him, a visit to several embassies revealed that “all the staff” were not owed for “several months.”

“I even visited Togo which is the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Every West African country has a building and staff quarters as poor as they may be, and Nigeria didn’t have, a founding member of ECOWAS,” he said.

“I came back and called the minister of finance and said, ‘What is happening? Let’s do something different.’ She said, ‘What?’ ‘Let’s ask every embassy to give us their budget.

“And when they give us their budget, we don’t send the money through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), we send the money straight to the embassies.’ That immediately eliminated the backlog of all the salaries that they were owing to our staff abroad.”

But, according to Atiku, the ministry was not pleased.

“They (MFA) kept on fighting. So, sometimes you have to really be bold enough to change some of the processes or procedures that are currently obtained in the public service to get service delivered to where they should be delivered,” he said.

“I was told of a story where, of course, some funding for universities was stalled at the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC): ‘NUC, what do you want to operate?’ (This) much. ‘Universities, where do you want to operate?’ (This) much.’ You give them directly. Why do you have to go through NUC?

“As I’ve said, I’ve pledged to increase the funding of education as far as our budget is concerned. Sadly, we are not even meeting our counterparts in West Africa. They may be poorer than we are, but we are not spending as much, as far as the educational sector is concerned.”

You can watch the full video of the interaction via channels link source below

H.E Atiku and Dr. Okowa is the combination Nigeria needs.

As One We can Get It Done!!!!!

Dr. Oche Otorkpa (FRSPH-UK)

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/12/11/i-will-clear-ASUU-salary-backlog-atiku/

I there is one thing I know about this man .......Atiku values education he is passionate about t

Yes, from the above said by Atiku we knew he can do it because he knows where the problem is

I personally agree with Atiku because of his love to Education

The Nigeria must Recover, Atiku Abubakar is our solution

Hummmm?

At the rate he's going, Atiku will ultimately promise to pay the dowry for all unmarried bachelors in West Africa if we can allow him to rule Nigeria for one day! Just one day!! Even 12 hours will do...

Such desperation is a sign of danger. Buhari came with similar promises. .. We saw hell..

This can only be done by someone who have the future of our Education system at heart. ATIKU &OKOWA got us covered.

I agree with Atiku Abubakar with what he says about ASUU Nigeria need a person like to clear all problem of education

There's no doubt about Atuku's passion for the suffering educational sector in Nigeria

#Atikuorganizingforaction

H.E Atiku Abubakar have experience on education he will solve all the problems that is crippling our universities, Atiku will make education standard In Nigeria there will be no more ASUU strike if we elect ATIKU/OKOWA 2023, #AtikuOrganizingForAction

I trust Atiku, because he isn't the one that can't find his school certificate
He knows the year he completed his school.
He knows his schoolmates.
He knows the value of education.

#AtikuOrganizingForAction

I lived in Lagos and partly in Yola, Adamawa State, I've visited most of the Universities in the South and I can testify that Atiku's University is one of the best Private University In the Country. He will use his experience and competence as a University proprietor to resolved the lingering crisis that crippled our educational system in the Country. In Atiku we Trust!!!

Atiku always see the key area that can make Nigerian working again

#Atiku for a better and greater on Nigeria come 2023

Sai the unifyer come 2023

Once the educational sector is settled, Nigeria will leap forward. Thank God for his vision to reposition the universities to what it should be.
My singular vote is for you sir

Atiku is the man of his word definetly he will do so if elected

Atiku Nigeria best Candidate in this next Election.

I'm very sure Atiku will do more than that in other to settle educations system in Nigeria

Supported our next President
By the special Grace of Almighty Lord.
AtikuOkowaOrganizingForAction

Keep up the good work Baba Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar remains the only candidate fit for becoming Nigeria's next leader to rescue Nigeria Base on fact's.

Sai the unifyer come 2023

unifier help the poor student, so that they can enjoy their study....

Atiku is Educated person
Atiku Unifear

With Atiku Abubakar Wazirin Adamawa as the President of Nigeria, our Educational system will be back in good shape.

Atiku abubakar of the PDP is Nigerians main ambassador for the "operation rescue Nigeria" come 2023 by God's Grace.

#Nigeria Needs Fixing come 2023.

Atiku is the right choice for Nigerians we will vote for him massively

Wazirin Adamawa have the future of our education system at heart and If given tge chance, we believe he would change our education system positively

We Believe With Atiku Abubakar As President 2023, All ASUU Demands Will Be Meet.

Atiku Abubakar Is An Educationalist, So He Value Education.

[our incoming president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar wazirin adamawa insha Allahu Nigeria sai Atiku Abubakar,