The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has responded to the federal government’s partial payment of salaries that were previously withheld.
ASUU members only received two out of the seven months owed. Comrade Salahu Mohammed Lawal, ASUU Abuja zonal coordinator, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four out of the eight months of withheld salaries.
The salaries were held back due to an eight-month strike by university-based unions in 2022, which was a response to the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Lawal expressed disappointment with the partial payment of two months’ salaries, stating that it did not meet the union’s expectations.
“This is far below the expectation of the union and further weakens the morale of our members and the union’s trust in government promises.
“We use this medium to call on all that are involved in this inglorious act to do the needful with regards lecturers’ withheld salaries as there is nothing more to prove,” Lawal said.
He urged the federal government to keep its promises by finalizing, signing, and promptly implementing the recommendations of the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee on Renegotiated Agreement.
The ASUU official also requested the government to pay all outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
ASUU stressed the importance of addressing overdue allowances and arrears at all campuses, noting that the pledged payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAAs) in the 2023 budget had not been carried out.
The union also called for a stop to the expansion of universities and appealed for sufficient funding for existing institutions instead of creating new ones.
