Ex-education Minister Joins Strike Months After Blaming ASUU For Not Reasoning With FG

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The recently sacked Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i has joined the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), despite trying to undermine the union’s resolve.

According to a report by Premium Times, enquiries at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where Rufa’i was teaching Education Curriculum before taking up political appointment, showed that although she had returned to the institution, she was yet to commence work because of the ongoing industrial action.

In a telephone interview yesterday, BUK Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Zaharaddeen, said that the former minister had joined her colleagues in the strike.

“How can she teach? She has joined the strike,” Zaharaddeen was quoted as saying. “She has no choice. How can anybody teach? Don’t forget, ASUU national president is from BUK,” he added.

Asked if she had joined the ASUU strike, the former education minister merely retorted, “It is an unfair question. Ask my university.”

Rufa’i was sacked from the federal cabinet alongside eight other ministers last September in a cabinet reshuffle done by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also affected in the reshuffle were Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs Minister), Hadiza Mailaifa (Environment Minister), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning Minister), Ama Pepple (Land, Housing and Urban Development Minister), Ita Ewa (Science and Technology Minister).

Ministers of State for Defence, Power and Agriculture, Olusola Obada, Zainab Kuchi and Bukar Tijani, respectively were also relieved of their positions.

Rufa’i, who became education minister in 2011, was a member of the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam-led federal government negotiation team, which held discussions with ASUU officials but was unable to resolve the issues that led to the strike, until her sack.

While she was minister, Rufa’i repeatedly blamed her colleagues for failing to call off the strike, despite the concessions made by the federal government.

3 COMMENTS

  1. for once it appears ASUU is up to govt antics. THose who call on ASUU to call off the strike should first call on govt to live up to their responsibilities on the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement. Is it not a shame that we are still talking about its implementation in 2013? while our university teachers are among the least paid in the world our politicians are among the most paid. This is injustice and inequality. I think all the other sectors of our national life should key in into the strike and let the African spring begin. Enough is enough. Kudos ASUU…. OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG. Let the strike continue until govt does what it must do.

  2. Shame on whoever thought this woman is a backstabber. she has still not criticized either government or asuu after her sack. How can you place the failure of a failing sector for over 3 decades that has seen 20+ ministers on a single individual? don’t we have any reasonable thinking ppl around????????. She was nominated by lamido and did not betray him to continue as a minister. This kind of loyalty is rare in Nigerian politics and you all know it!!!