ASUU Strike: FG Provides Proof of Payment, Tells Lecturers to Resume

The Presidency has provided evidence that it has paid
the N200bn it promised to release for universities revitalisation.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said this while briefing journalists on be payment of the N200bn by the Federal Government into "Revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure" account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

While giving further evidence to buttress the claim that
the N200bn had been paid, Okupe gave a copy of the letter written by the deputy Governor of CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo to the Accountant General of the Federation, to journalists.

The letter, with reference GVD/DGO/GEN/MPA/05/151 and
dated December 10, 2013 reads in part , "Confirmation
of the execution of your mandates for the credit of account No: 00200xx522, Revitalization revitalisation of
Universities Infrastructure" Account.

"I write to confirm the execution of the following mandates by the Central Bank of Nigeria for funding of the above mentioned account as follows:

1. Mandate FDL/LP201340/1/30/DF: N129,300,000,000:00
2. Mandate FD/FA/124/Vol X11/120/1DF:
N20,700,000,000:00
3. Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/DF :N50,000,000,000:00

"I wish to further confirm that the available balance in
the aforementioned account is
N200,000,000,000:00( two hundred billion naira only.
"Please accept the assurances of my best regards."

With this, Okupe said there was no need for the continuation of the strike.

He said the President of ASUU', Dr. Nasir Faggee had said last Thursday that if there was proof of payment that the strike would be called off immediately.

He said, " I hereby show the proof of payment to all
Nigerians, not only to ASUU and to let the people know
that when we say that this administration has no
credibility issue, we mean it.

"We have kept our cool, we have taken a lot of insults
and all that and things that were disparaging but we are
glad today to show this proof that this has been done as
we said

"Therefore, I want to join other well meaning Nigerians to
appeal to ASUU to cancel or stop the strike promptly.

There is no further legitimacy behind the strike anymore.

"There is no further reason for this strike to continue beyond tonight and if ASUU is indeed a very serious organization, after this pronouncement and after this submission, they should also hold an emergency meeting latest within the next fe hours and call off the strike in the interest of the whole country."