The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has berated the Federal Government on its decision to introduce loan disbursements to tertiary institution workers, including lecturers, describing the move as a distraction from the real issue that government needs to address.
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The president of the union, Professor Christopher Piwuna, in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, stated that what workers, especially ASUU members, really want the Federal Government to do is to review their pay packets to reflect the current economic reality that has pushed costs of goods and services in the country beyond the roof.
He explained that giving loans to workers in academic circles, including universities, was never a new thing in Nigeria as most universities already have such an arrangement among workers.
The Federal Government has recently introduced the loans facility known as Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), noting that the gesture would enhance the welfare, financial stability, and professional development of tertiary institution workers from colleges of education to universities.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, each academic and non-academic staff member is eligible to receive up to N10 million, capped at 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary.
But Piwuna emphasised that government’s loan facility might not be as efficient in terms of disbursement.
“Such loans won’t be able to address the needs of our members, rather, add to our troubles, largely because we are already in a depressed economic situation as a country.
“So, government should choose the main thing that academics are asking for, which is better pay. It can then strengthen whatever supports it has for workers,” he said.
While also giving update about their withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries since 2022, Piwuna urged the Federal Government to offset the unpaid salaries.
He said the money was neither an award nor a gift, but for the work done by members, underscoring the importance of payment without further delay.
He, however, thanked President Bola Tinubu’s government for paying part of the total withheld salaries back then, urging the president to look into the matter and settle it once and for all.
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