The Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba says he never told members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider farming as an alternative Job.
Hon. Nwajiuba in a statement released by his Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Bem Goong, said he was quoted out of context in reports by a section of the media.
According to the statement, the minister was only encouraging members of the Association and Nigerians, in general, to take up farming as an alternative source of income.
It would be recalled that the minster was credited with reports which asked striking lecturers to resign and go into the farming.
The statement didn’t sit well with ASUU which similarly urged the Minister to resign and begin farming as a worthy national service.
A copy of the minister’s statement clarifying his position was obtained by the Heritage Times. It reads:
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to publications in some national dailies to the effect that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has called on the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, to resign his appointment and take up farming as a profession.
“This is in response to a statement supposedly made by the Hon. Minister advising members of ASUU to resign from the teaching profession and take to farming instead.
“We wish to categorically state that the Minister was quoted out of context.
“The Minister was encouraging members of the Association and Nigerians, in general, to take up farming as an alternative source of income.
“This is in line with the present administration’s developmental agenda of refocusing on agriculture for economic diversification.
“Furthermore, farming is the only profession in which civil servants are constitutionally empowered to engage in even while they are working.
“Agriculture helps boost food security, National development, as well as provide economic empowerment for Nigerians.
“The Federal Ministry of Education is therefore surprised at the outburst of ASUU on the Minister’s statement as there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking up farming while still working.
“The Hon. Minister of State is on point. The outburst of the Academic Staff Union of Universities is clearly a matter of transferred aggression, totally unfounded, misguided and absolutely unnecessary,” Goong said.
