VOICE AIR MEDIA

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday said the country will soon hear from President Muhammadu Buhari on the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Mr Gbajabiamila made the comment while meeting with the President at the State House for the second time in one week over the matter.

The Speaker, along with other lawmakers, in recent weeks have acted as negotiators between the Federal Government and the striking workers.

Gbajabiamila said discussions with the President were fruitful and expects Buhari to make known his decisions to the public after reviewing the lawmakers’ recommendations.

During his budget presentation speech at the National Assembly earlier on Friday, President Buhari had said a total of N470 billion has been earmarked in the 2023 budget for revitalisation and salary enhancements in the nation’s tertiary institutions, addressing some of ASUU’s main demands.

But the President noted that government alone cannot continue to provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.

“In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level,” the President said. “It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education.”

He added that his administration was committed to implementing agreements reached with staff unions within the available resources.

“This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement,” he said. “Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector.

“Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels.”

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