ASSU Demand Would Soon be Settled Once & For All - Education Minister

MINISTER of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i gave hope that the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement the union entered into with the Federal Government would soon be settled once and for all.

The Minister hinged her optimism on the success recorded by the Needs Assessment Implementation Committee headed by the Benue State Governor, Hon. Gabriel Suswan on how to resolve the crisis.

“In terms of where we are with ASUU, you know we have been meeting all this while, government is talking with their officials to see that we address these challenges.

Prof. Rufa’i, who described this administration’s commitment to ensuring quality education delivery as total, noted that in 2012, over 200 blocks of classrooms were constructed in 29 states, while over N19.7m materials have been provided in the key subject areas for Basic Education across the country in the past two years to support the teaching/learning process.

“At the tertiary education level, there has been a boom in infrastructural transformation. In each of the institutions, all areas of infrastructural challenge are being addressed through the provision of new facilities as well as rehabilitation of existing ones.”

She, however, admitted that there were obvious challenges ahead despite the modest achievements.