Monday 25 November 2013

Okonjo Iweala appeals to ASUU to call off strike

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.

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