The supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday said the Federal Government was committed to investing N1.3 trillion in public universities in the next six years, to transform the institutions.
Wike who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while responding to the suspension of the six months old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said part of the fund would be used to revitalise infrastructure in public universities to transform them into international centres of excellence.
The minister restated the federal government’s commitment to the implementation of all the resolution reached with the ASUU.
According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, more than any other previous administrations, has invested heavily in the revival of basic and tertiary education in the country.
He said this was because it considered education as a veritable source of empowering less privileged Nigerians to achieve their life ambitions.
He disclosed that that the government had inaugurated an Implementation Monitoring Committee on the agreement under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation .
The minister said that the committee’s membership consisted of ASUU, SSANU, Committee of Vice- Chancellors, and Committee of Pro-Chancellors and other stakeholders, to ensure proper implementation of the agreement.
Wike said the Federal Government was also working towards reviving infrastructure in federal polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
According to him, the administration has established Needs Assessment Committees to determine areas of priority and funding required to revive the tertiary institutions.
He commended ASUU for calling off the strike and appreciated its role in ensuring that Nigerian universities were well-funded.
Wike also commended Nigerians for their understanding during the period of the strike.