Okonjo Iweala appeals to ASUU to call off strike

Okonjo Iweala appeals to ASUU to call off
strike
on november 25, 2013 at 3:05 am in news
BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN — The Coordinating Minister for the
Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi
Okonjo‑Iweala, weekend, appealed to the striking
university lecturers to call off the strike  and
resume teaching.
She said this after she and the Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi bagged doctorate honorary doctorate
degrees at a private university, OduduwaUniversity,
Ipetumodu in OsunState.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, according to
the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adeleke Ogunwale,
nominated the two eminent Nigerians for the award
as part of activities marking the maiden convocation
of the institution which produced 18 first class
graduates out of 166 that graduated.
Dr. Iweala was awarded honorary Doctor of Science
in Accounting, her counterpart was honoured with
Doctor of Science in Economics.
The ceremony attracted important dignitaries like
the Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade who was represented
by his wife, Chief Mojisola Sijuwade; the Pro
Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Dr.
Adegoke Adedoyin, among others.
She said: “We are indeed saddened by the death of
Professor Iyayi. I appeal to ASUU to go back to
school in the interest of students, their parents,
because the Federal Government has acceded to
their requests.”
The Minister said this just as she clarified that the
shortfall in the federal allocation to state
governments in the federation did not have any
political colouration as being insinuated in some
quarters.
According to her: “There is no politics in it. Every
state goes to Federal Allocation Committee meeting
monthly; they see the account and know that oil
production is down and the receipts are down.
“They know Customs’ revenues are down, yet we
distribute whatever that is to be distributed. From
that, we have been able to manage this country and
workers have been able to collect their salaries.
On the need for the revitalisation of tertiary
education, she said: “Our tertiary institutions face
serious challenges which require urgent attention.
President Jonathan injects N220billion a year on
top of regular resources to address challenges in
tertiary education.”
She gave N50,000 prize each year for the best
student in Accounting and Economics as a personal
contribution to the development of the institution.
In his own short response, Mallam Sanusi said
though, the economy was becoming stable, the
effects of the growth should be seen in the life of a
common man on the street”.
The Vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adeleke
Ogunwale, commended the Ooni of Ife for giving
hundreds of acres for the establishment of the
institution which came to being in2009.
He hinted that the institution graduated 166 students
with18 first class, 63 second upper division and 82
lower class. Out of the 18 first class, 10 of them are
ladies. The honorees have impacted positively on
people. Patience Jonathan. Today, we confer doctor
of science in accounting on Dr. Iweala while Mallam
Sanusi was awarded. doctor of science in
Economics.