Since March 24, federal government-owned institutions have been on strike due to a lingering dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) despite interventions by the House of Representatives led by Gbajabiamila.
On Monday, before the House adjourned for the Christmas and New Year holiday, Mr Gbajabiamila listed some of the legislative interventions of the House, he, however, left out the ASUU crisis which the House had in the past intervened.
In October, the Speaker threatened not to sign the 2021 budget without a provision for ASUU. The 2021 appropriation was passed today without any comment from the Speaker on his promise.
It was reported in March this year, a meeting between ASUU and the Speaker with a pledge from the Speaker to help end the industrial dispute.
The Speaker in his speech following the passage of the 2021 appropriation bill did not state if there is a provision in the budget to address the strike which he promised he will not unless there is an allocation to address the issue.
“We worked with the Executive to address medical doctors and healthcare workers’ welfare demands and resolve a labour dispute that would have resulted in strike actions and walkouts with devastating consequences for too many of our citizens, amid a raging and deadly pandemic.
“Because of the House of Representatives, “Hazard Allowance” became part of the medical and pandemic lexicon. The intervention by the House elevated the welfare of healthcare workers to a ministerial issue and saw to it that these hazard allowances were provided for and paid.”
It is yet unknown if there is a provision in the N13.58 trillion budget for ASUU
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
