Nigeria’s Education Minister, Adamu Adamu has said on Thursday that it is the responsibility of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to compensate millions of Nigerian students whose time have been wasted by the union members.
The minister also said the students could drag the union to court to seek redress.
Speaking at the 47th Session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, the Minister said the Federal Government had done all necessary to end the strike.
The minister also told the lecturers to forget the payment of any emoluments for the six months they have been on strike adding that the government would not pay for allowances not deserved.
He said the policy of “no-work-no-pay is still in force. The minister said the payment of salaries for the period of strike is a major area of difference delaying the calling off of the strike.
Adamu argued that in spite of the N2.5 trillion expended on education by President Buhari’s administration through the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) as well as Universal Basic Education (UBEC), surpassing the N1.2 trillion demanded by ASUU, lecturers have maintained their position to embark on a needless strike.
However, the minister said that ASUU had begun consultations with their members to determine whether to call off their strike as well.