Following the payment of partial salaries for the month of October to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Union has criticised the federal government.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday by Chairman of the ASUU branch at the University of Lagos, Dele Ashiru. He described the October salaries as “amputated and crippled” payments.
According to him, “it is to say the least insensitive and disheartening that a supposedly democratic government can be so vicious, reckless and inhuman in dealing with the best brains in our society,” the statement said.
“The leadership of the Union at the National level has been duly informed about this unfortunate development and they are on top of the issue.
“Members enjoined to remain calm and await further directives from the National Secretariat even in the face of this bracing provocation and crass wickedness by this administration.
“Please remain strong and undaunted because, a people united, can never be defeated.
“We shall overcome.”
Many academics on Thursday reported receiving partial salaries although it was not clear if it was a coordinated action by the federal government.
As part of efforts to address the issue, it was gathered that ASUU is set to summon an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council.
Although no date has been fixed for the meeting, according to the information, a NEC meeting could give impetus to another strike action.
“Half salaries were paid, no reasons were given whatsoever.
“We learnt that Ngige wrote to the office of the Accountant General and Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system and told them to only pay us for the period when we called off the strike.
“We heard there was a letter to that effect but we haven’t gotten it yet. We are going to summon a meeting,” ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke said.
Meanwhile, the ASUU branch at the Gombe State University has ordered its members not to submit results for the 2021/2022 session over the withheld salaries.
In a statement dated November 2, 2022, the branch also said academics should not continue with the supervision of both undergraduate and postgraduate projects allocated prior to the commencement of the strike action.
The statement was signed by the branch chairperson, Suleiman Salihu Jauro and the branch secretary, Mohammed Garba Ndogu.
