FG to students: Sue ASUU for wasting your time.

What the Minister of Education is saying

Adamu at the briefing said that the federal government bears no liability to compensate millions of students grounded for 6 months over lost time, adding that if the students are determined to get compensated, they should take ASUU to court.

He said, “We are all hit by this strike action, perhaps because students have to spend an extra one year or two, you can say, they are worst hit. If you had the chance, or the capacity to measure the effect of that on the economy, the economy is also a victim, parents are also victims.

“It’s a loss for the nation. As far as I know, JAMB will administer examinations, students will use it to process admissions into universities, nothing has changed.

“Who do you assume will compensate students? The federal government? Probably you should take the leaders of strike unions to court to pay them, probably the court will award damages and then, we’ll see how they pay.”

Lecturers won’t be paid salaries for the 6-month striking period

The minister also at the briefing disclosed that the striking university lecturers would not have their salaries paid for the 6 months they have been on strike to serve as a deterrent to other government workers for such bad behaviour.

Adamu said that the federal government has refused to give in to the demand by the ASUU for their members to be paid the backlog of salaries withheld over the ongoing strike, saying it is meant to be the penalty for their needless action.

He said, “I think the stand that the government has taken now, not to pay no work done, I think that’s the only thing in the hand of the government to ensure that there’s penalty for some behaviour like this.

“I believe teachers will think twice before they join the strike if they know that at the end, they are not going to be paid.

“The government is not acting arbitrarily. There is a law and I believe this is going to be a strong element to deter many from going on strike.”