The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has said that the Federal Government is working hard to avert another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
This is as she said that the various reforms and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are meant to holistically tackle Nigeria’s many economic challenges from the root, and proffer a lasting solution.
According to her, Nigerians will still enjoy the lasting gains of the reforms although the initial effects might be painful.
The Minister who spoke while fielding questions from newsmen during her 17th annual free medical outreach at Isuochi, Abia State, expressed optimism that the issues being raised by ASUU would soon be resolved.
Recall that ASUU had last week, given Government 14-day ultimatum to clear the remaining four months salary arrears owed their members during the 2020 nationwide strike.
The union also wants Government to remove its members from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS), and migrate them to University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS); defrayal of the balance of earned allowance among other demands.
The Minister also assured that Government was in touch with the Organised Labour to avert a looming nationwide strike.
She said:”For the ASUU strike, it’s being sorted out, and I know that very soon, those issues will be resolved. On the looming nationwide strike, we met with the NLC leadership on Wednesday and we had fruitful deliberations. We were able to tell them the state of the nation.
It’s good to let the Organised Labour know what government is doing.”
Explaining that some measures, though painful, had to been taken to prevent the economy from total collapse, the Minister appealed to Nigerians to be patient and support President Tinubu in his bid to re-invest the country’s economy.
“We can’t fold our hands and expect manner to fall from heaven. The President is trying to fix up things.The decisions we are making are not easy but they are ultimately for our good as a country.
” Some of the things causing the hunger were what Government of the day inherited. People who were here before did not take appropriate actions to say stop where they should say stop.
” But now President Tinubu has said that this hemorrhage has to stop. We can’t continue to pay fuel subsidy.
” So, that’s the pain that everybody is going through, and I don’t think we should fold our hands and continue this way. It’s not all about providing subsidy because. If you provide subsidy to the extent that you don’t have a country, what happens?
” Previous Governments right from ex-President Obasanjo were borrowing to pay subsidy. It’s like you are spending what you don’t have. For how long will that continue? We are blessed in this country, and this is the time for us to right the wrongs so we can enjoy the blessings of God. And that’s what President Tinubu is doing.
” But we have resolved that this is our country. We must take certain decisions, even though they’re hurting, we want NNPC to get back to its feet to be able to be contributing to the budget of the federal government. When that is done, all these complaints about hunger will be a thing of the past.”
The Minister further said efforts were being intensified by the President Tinubu administration to address insecurity and displacement of farmers.
” Government is taking seriously the issue of security. If you have security, farmers will go back to farm. We plead that Nigerians should put hands together to support the President in his reforms. We are looking towards a nation where there will be prosperity for everybody.”
Onyejeocha who said the era of trading blames was over, urged Nigerians irrespective of their political leanings to support President Tinubu.
” If we continue to talk about party we will plunge into disaster. We are not blaming anybody. The President has said that he solicited for the job. He had no regrets. He said he had inherited everything and would make sure he did the right things. So, what APC is focusing on now is to get things right.”
Meanwhile, a team of 40 medics including medical doctors, pharmacists, optometrists, nurses, laboratory scientists, among others sponsored by Onyejeocha was on ground to attend to a mammoth crowd of patients at Amuda Isuochi during the free medical outreach.
The team lead, Dr Humble Chimaobi, said members of the team were working hard to meet up their daily target of 120 patients and 100 surgery cases.
He commended the Minister for engaging them to help deliver quality health care to the people.
Onyejeocha had promised to continue to sponsor free medical outreach to help the poor receive medical.