The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has
criticised the federal government over the payment of half salaries to
lecturers for the month of October.
NigerianEye had reported how the lecturers were paid “half”
of one month salary.
The federal government had justified its action, explaining
that the lecturers were paid based on the number of days they worked in the
stated month.
But responding on Tuesday, Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president,
said its members are not casual workers and should not be treated as such.
Osodeke described the action of the government as “an
aberration” and a contravention of their rules of engagement.
He said the union’s national executive committee (NEC)
“noted with dismay that paying academics on ‘pro-rata’ basis, like casual
workers, is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour
relations and therefore condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to
casual workers in its entirety.”
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended
its eight-month strike on 14th October, 2022, in obedience to the order of the
National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts
of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Honourable Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,” he said in a statement.
“The action of the
Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions
and organs of government to always put national interest above all other
considerations.
“This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and
patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis,
but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government
and Nigerian workers at large.
“Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s
demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days
as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them as daily paid
workers!
“This is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all
known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world
over.
Osodeke commended the lecturers for their “perseverance” and
urged students and their parents to be understanding while ASUU pursue a
resolution within the ambit of the law.
He said at an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s NEC which held on Monday, the union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike.
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