Trillions Spent On COVID Response Could’ve Been Used To Settle ASUU – Says Yahaya Bello

The money utilized to respond to COVID-19, according to Kogi governor Yahaya Bello, could have gone toward resolving the ongoing dispute between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Since February 14, ASUU has been on strike because the federal government has not complied with its demands over funding for universities and the pay and benefits of teachers.

The strike had been in effect for 186 days as of Friday, which has angered students, parents, and other stakeholders.

The governor stated “trillions” spent on nose masks and hand sanitizers over COVID in the country might have been used to the advantage of the education sector in response to the strike on Friday’s Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television show.

“Like I used to say; I’ll return to the days when I was a loner, I think I’m still a loner on the issue of no COVID-19. The trillions spent buying nose masks and hand sanitisers… a lot could have solved this ASUU issue, but that’s that,” he said.

The former presidential hopeful said ministers negotiating with ASUU are not representing President Muhammadu Buhari well.

“I don’t think they [ministers] are representing Mr President well. This is a man that cares so much about education, and even children during that lockdown were being fed at home.

“Those who Mr President entrusted to handle this protracted issue are not doing justice to it.”