NIGERIA- Minister for Finance and the Coordinating Minister for Economics, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off their five month old strike and resume duty.

The Minister made this appeal at the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, when she and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, bagged doctorate degrees (Honouraris Causa) at the institution.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was awarded honorary Doctor of Science in Accounting, her counterpart was honoured with Doctor of Science in Economics.

The Minister said the Federal Government was sad about the death of Prof. Iyayi and that the shortfall in the federal allocation to state governments has no political colouration as widely insuniated by the people.

“We are indeed saddened by the death of Professor Iyayi.  I appeal to ASUU to go back to school in the interest of students, their parents, because the Federal Government has acceded to their requests.

“Our tertiary institutions face serious challenges which require urgent attention. President Jonathan  injects N220billion a year on top of regular resources to address challenges in tertiary education.” She said.

On the allocation, she said; “There is no politics in it. Every state goes to Federal Allocation Committee meeting monthly; they see the account and know that oil production is down and the receipts are down.

“They know Customs’ revenues are down, yet we distribute whatever that is to be distributed. From that, we have been able to manage this country and workers have been able to collect their salaries.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeleke Ogunwale, said the two recipients of the doctorate degrees were recommended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, as part of activities marking the maiden convocation of the institution which produced 18 first class graduates out of 166 that graduated.

In his own short response, Mallam Sanusi said though, the economy was becoming stable, the effects of the growth should be seen in the life of a common man on the street”.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala therefore announced a personal contribution of N50, 000 yearly for the best graduating students in Accounting and Economics.

The ceremony attracted  important dignitaries like the Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade who was represented by his wife, Chief Mojisola Sijuwade; the Pro Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Adegoke Adedoyin, among others.

The Vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adeleke Ogunwale, commended the Ooni of Ife for giving hundreds of acres for the establishment of the institution which came to being in2009.

He hinted that the institution graduated 166 students with18 first class, 63 second upper division and 82 lower class. Out of the 18 first class, 10 of them are ladies.