ASUU: National Assembly pledges supplementary budget to end strike

In a bid to bring a quick end to the ongoing strike by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the House of
Representatives, yesterday gave indication of National
Assembly's readiness to approve the supplementary budget
needed by the Federal Government to meet th
e demands of
the striking lecturers.
However, the Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal said that
ASUU must demonstrate enough patriotism in the interest of
the generality of Nigerians. Specifically, Tambuwal urged
the lecturers to sheathe their swords and resolve the strike
which has shut down government-owned universities for
four months.
Tambuwal stated these when he was being briefed by the
Aminu Suleiman-led House Committee on Education which
was assigned to investigate the conflict. The speaker,
appealed to both parties (ASUU and FG) to put the interests
of Nigerian students and the future of the nation's
education above all other considerations. He disclosed that
the National Assembly was ready to offer budgetary
intervention when the need arises, with a view to speedily
resolve the problem, which, according to him, has lingered
for too long.
He said: "Let me use this opportunity to appeal to both the
executive arm and the authorities of ASUU to quickly
resolve the problem. And if there is need for any
appropriation, the House will expeditiously assent to it in
the interests of our students and the nation."
Meanwhile, the Lower Chamber has directed its Committees
on Police Affairs, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Justice, to
investigate the desirability of the Biometric Central Motor
Registration (BCMR) by the Nigerian Police. The Police had
last month, announced the introduction of its new Biometric
Central Motor Registration, BCMR, which it claimed, would
help the Force to fight terrorism, kidnapping and car theft.
For these, motorists, tricycle and motorbike owners will be
required to pay N3,500 into the coffers of the Police.
Adopting the prayers of a motion on the matter introduced
by Hassan Saleh and 26 other lawmakers, the House
expressed concern that the Police was seeking to duplicate
what the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is already
doing. While noting that the idea is laudable, especially in
the wake of the spate of crime in the country, the House,
however, said that Nigerian Police could not justify the
scheme it is seeking to implement, based on those claims
since the FRSC is already capturing the biometric data of all
motorists in the country.
While introducing the motion, Saleh had pointed out that
"ordinarily any measure that will enhance security of lives
and property ought to be welcomed." He however, said that
the Police's venture is unnecessary, noting that government
owe Nigerians the sacred duty to protect them from any
form of exploitation.
"While Nigerians are grappling with how to come to terms
with the high cost of obtaining the new drivers licence and
renewal of their old number plates which costs are on the
high side, the Nigerian Police pretends to be unaware that
the FRSC is presently collating biometrics details of all
motorists in the country," Saleh said.
Source:sunnews
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