Drama As FG Pays ASUU Half Salaries For October

Some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have tackled the federal government for not paying them full salaries.

ASUU had embarked on strike on February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

Amid the back-and-forth over the union’s demands, the federal government had threatened not to pay the lecturers for the strike period, but a review of the decision was said to be under consideration.

On October 14, the union suspended its the strike and directed members to resume work immediately.

The decision to suspend the strike came days after the court of appeal sitting in Abuja ordered the union to call off its strike.

Members of the union, who spoke with newsmen on Thursday, said despite the suspension of the strike, the government is yet to pay them full salaries.

Moyosore Ajao, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ASUU chairman, confirmed the development.

“I’m yet to get mine but some of us who have received theirs got half salaries for October. We don’t know why they have to pay us half salary,” he told our correspondent

A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who did not want to be named, also confirmed that he did not get full salary.

The UNN lecturer, however, said it wasn’t clear what month the pay was for.

“What I got is not exactly half of my salary. But then, it’s not up to my usual salary. Basically, they didn’t pay full salary, that’s the right word for it. The month was also not specified,” the lecturer said.

Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president, was not available for comment as of the of this report as his phone number was not reachable.

Speaking with our correspondent, a senior member of the National Executive Council, said, “We were only paid for the days after the strike. I received a half salary. Other members are angry right now, they are blaming the NEC for calling off the strike.”

Another member, who confirmed the development, said, “Yes, it is true, I received half salary. It seems the government is set to kill unionism in the country but we are ready for them.”

Last month, Osodeke had said ASUU suspended its strike because of a court order asking it to do so.

“The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreement has been signed. So, we are resuming because we are a law abiding body and we don’t want to break the law. We are also hoping that the intervention of the speaker, as promised by him, will resolve these problems in a very short time,” he had said.