Should We Go And Borrow 1.2 Trillion Naira To Pay ASUU? Festus Keyamo Asks On Live TV

Minister of State for labour and productivity, Festus Keyamo has questioned the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to embark on the prolonged strike currently going on in the country.

It is 170 days the University lecturers have been on strike and every attempt by the government and other stakeholders to intervene in the situation and persuade the lecturers to return to classrooms has continued to meet the brick wall.

Speaking on the development on the Friday edition of Channels TV Politics Today, Festus Keyamo said the federal government has done everything within its power to asuage ASUU but the Union refused to back down from the strike.

He explained that the country does not have enough money ASUU is demanding for and has told them why the union should need to reconsider its decision in the interest of fairness and innocent students whose time are avoidably being wasted.

He asked if the Union wants the government to go and borrow the sum of 1.2 trillion naira to pay the amount they are demanding for. He noted that ASUU is not the only public institution that is feeding on government purse.

That is the reason the union needs to consider their decision and end the strike.

Festus Keyamo asked the host, Seun Okinbaloye to appeal to parents and other stakeholders to speak to ASUU on behalf of the government so that they can return to classrooms. Also, if they want him to kneel down and beg ASUU, he will not hesitate to do so.

While Okinbaloye asked him to do so on TV that parents are also watching him, Festus Keyamo insisted he would have to see the parents physically before he could knee down to beg ASUU.

Keyamo featured as a special guest on Friday edition of Channels TV Politics Today.