Minister-designed to end Asuu strike, senate comfirms nominees

 

The senate, on Wednesday, screened and comfirmed the seven ministerial nominees whose name were sent lastweek  by the president, major General muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for confirmation.

The screening, which started around noon, lasted till 4:37pm. 

Those screened and comfirmed include Henry Ikoh (Abia), Umana Umana (Akwa-Ibom) and Ekumankama Nkama(Ebonyi) others are Goodluck Opiah(Imo), Umar El-Yakub (kano), Ademola Adegoroye (UNDO) and Udi Odum (rivers)

While answering questions from lawmakers, Ikoh said operational licenses should be granted operators of moduler refineries in the country as part of the job creation efforts.

Umana, on his part, underscore the need for Nigeria to step up its production capacity so as to boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce the country's reliance on importation.

Nbaka admonished young Nigerians to tap into new areas of investment, so as to foster self-reliance and productivity, particularly in the country's trade sector.

On the lingering strike by the Academy staff union of universities, Nmaka said if appointed in to the ministry of labour and employment, he would ensure that the Federal government and Asuu reach a compromise, while also urging the national assembly to provide additional funding for the educational sector, so as to meet some of the needs of the Union.

He said "there will be the need of compromise, for a very long time, Asuu has been sticking to its guns that all the agreements reached earlier must be implemented. And we know that from the same source - the same national purse- there are several contending interests seeking attention.

 " my advice will be that the Federal Government and Asuu will have to come to a compromise, and through this we will be able to solve the issue of the Asuu strike once and for all. I know the importance of budgetary provision. I want to appeal to the senate that when the budget is being made for the coming year, there will be adequate provision for the education  sector so that some of these needs that the Asuu members are asking for as a union will be met. "

Lending his voice to the need for an end to the Asuu strike, Adegoroye described the union's action as against the interest of the Nigerian students. 

Opiah was asked to take a bow, in accordance with the Senate's tradition of extending such privilege to past members of the national assembly.