The Presidency has debunked reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had issued an ultimatum to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Reacting to widely circulated reports on the purported ultimatum, the Senior special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam
Garba Shehu, in a statement Wednesday, decried the fact that “almost all media houses allowed themselves to be deceived by interested sources.”
While giving an official insight into what transpired, Shehu said, “The outcome of the meeting held by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to end the agitations by university unions ought to be beyond spin-doctoring and conjectures. It is a pity that almost all media houses allowed themselves to be deceived by interested sources that are not the authorised spokesmen of government.
“Neither during nor after the meeting was any ultimatum given to the Minister of Education. During the meeting, the Minister of Education requested that the Minister of Labour hands off the negotiation to allow him lead and conclude what he had earlier on started with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). And he promised that he could get an agreement within the shortest possible time, possibly two to three weeks.
“In carrying out this assignment, the minister will carry along all relevant ministries and agencies with statutory functions and duties relating to the issues involved.
“The Presidency is optimistic that agreements can be reached in an even shorter period if all parties/stakeholders are not unrealistically obstinate. We appeal to the parties to work together to end the strikes.
“On the part of the administration, all doors remain open for dialogue and the resolution of the issues.
“We appeal to the media not to try to spread misinformation. The orchestrated media narratives seeking to present an entirely different picture, attributed to sources, in the last 24 hours, are not helpful at all.”
