Declare the true status of Nigeria’s economy – NASU tells FG

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has described as unacceptable, a recent pronouncement by the Minister for Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the nation’s economy was healthy.

The NEC, rising from its meeting yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, said “the most veritable weapon to measure the virility or otherwise of the nation’s economy remain the enhanced emoluments of the workers and a boost in general purchasing power of the citizens.”

The NASU in its 18-point communique signed by its National President, Mrs. Ladi IIiya and General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi asked the government to declare the true state of the nation’s economy.

It said there are worrying indications that suggests all might not be well with the economy.

This, NASU said, include the inability of the government in recent times to diligently pay the statutory monthly allocations to some states of the federation.

Reacting to calls for the removal of the Minister, the union disagreed with the proposition, saying “the more you want such people out of any government, the longer they stay, as long as they continue to satisfy the appetite of their pay master.”
NASU, while praising the governments on its efforts at fixing some of the dilapidated roads, expressed worries over the carnage on the roads, canvassing prompt overhauling of the rail system to supplement the road haulage.

The union further commended the federal government for the release of a sum of N100 billion intervention fund to the universities through the Implication Committee of the NEEDS Assessment Report for infrastructural development.

It called for expedite action that will ensure the release of the remaining N300 billion.