KEMI OMONIYI
The Federal Government has paid lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), their November salaries in full, while also withholding the eight months arrears, a period when ASUU was on strike.
“Some of our members have started receiving salaries and I can confirm to you that we received our full salaries for the month of November. However, the arrears are still withheld,” a senior member of the union at the Bayero University, Kano, revealed in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Federal Government had insisted it will not pay the lecturers within the period they were on strike, a decision union members have since challenged.
The lecturers, in October 2022, were also paid pro-rata (half-pay) according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
According to reports, the lecturers were paid only 18 working days in the month of October, quoting a senior member of ASUU who spoke under strict confidence noted.
“We were only paid for the days after the strike. I received half salary. Other members are angry right now, they are blaming the NEC for calling off the strike,” the anonymous union member said.
Lecturers across the country have been protesting against this decision by the Federal Government.
ASUU called off its eight-month-old strike on October 14, 2022. Lecturers were encouraged to resume back to work by the union on that same day.
There are indications that the union’s leadership may meet in coming days over the withheld salaries.
