The Presidency has debunked reports in a section of the media that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday gave a two-week ultimatum to the Minister of Education to resolve the issues responsible for the ongoing strike by university lecturers.
In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said media outfits that carried the story were deceived by unauthorized persons.
Shehu emphasized that no ultimatum was given by the President during or after the meeting.
He 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 authorized 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 to 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.
“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.”
He however, assured Nigerians that the impasse with university lecturers would be resolved.
“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,” he added.
PIAK
