There is no need for ASUU to continue strike – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday
said there was no need for the Academic
Staff Union of Universities to continue with
their industrial action.
Jonathan said this at the inauguration of the
Federal Government sponsored-
Transformation Projects at the Federal
University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
Represented by Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, the
Minister of Education, the president said
N30 billion had been released for the
payment of earned allowances in all public
universities.
The president said that the inaugurated
projects were in line with the Federal
Government’s commitment to providing
quality education in the country.
He said the projects were based on the need
assessment exercise conducted by the
Federal Government in universities.
Jonathan urged the university
administration to engage in research for
national development, while stressing the
need for proper maintenance of completed
projects.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chidozie Asiabaka,
in his speech, expressed joy at the
completion of the structure.
Asiabaka noted that the projects had gone a
long way in tackling the dearth of basic
infrastructure in the school.
“The dearth of classrooms, lecture theatres,
power supply, student hostels, office
accommodation, library space and facilities
are major challenges my administration
faced when I assumed office two years-
ago,’’ he said.
The vice chancellor said with the
intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust
Fund, the university got 1000 sitting-
capacity lecture theatre, Centre for
Entrepreneurial Studies Building.
He said the inaugurated projects are the
new Engineering Technology, School of
Environmental Technology Building, Centre
for Nuclear Energy Studies and Training and
the School of Agriculture and Agricultural
Technology building complexes.
The others are the School of Environmental
Technology building, landscaping of the
campus and the provision of solar energy
lights on the campus.
He also commended the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC) on the
completion of the giant student hostel
building in the university.
He lauded the Federal Government for the
release of N1 billion for the development of
capital projects in each public funded
university. (NAN)