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.
TheOoni 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 theOoni 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.