The union says FG wants to reduce intellectuals to casual workers.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the attempt by the Federal Government to turn academics into casual workers through its “pro rata” payment for 18 days’ work in the month of October. The union suspended its 8-month long strike and asked universities to resume full academic activities from October 14, 2022. This was after the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila. The union agreed to suspend the strike to allow the stakeholders attend to their requests.
However, the union has come to a resolution at its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting not to embark on another strike action. This was contained in a statement released by the body on November 9, 2022. In the statement, the ASUU national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, recalled that the union suspended its eight-month industrial action in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court (NIC) and further interventions of well-meaning Nigerians and Hon. Gbajabiamila.
Osodeke says this mode of payment is unprecedented.
The national president revealed that the union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike and the NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on a “pro rata” basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labor relations. He said, “Payment for 18 days as the October 2022 salaries of academics is unacceptable thereby portraying us as daily paid workers. This is not only an aberration but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.”
He further added that the response of the government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust after the suspension of its strike on October 14 was the “pro rata” payment. Some of the lecturers are said to have been paid only 21,000 naira as salary for the month. This is what the ASUU president argues portrays them as daily paid, casual workers, just as if they worked in a factory where there are no labor laws or insurance of any kind.
FG denies paying ASUU half salaries for October.
The Federal Government denied the union’s accusation of being paid half salaries for October. The head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Olajide Oshundun, announced this in a statement that he signed on Saturday, November 5, 2022, in Abuja. He replied that the ministry was reacting to reports about alleged selective treatment and half-salary payment to ASUU members. He said those reports are grossly inaccurate, misleading and barefaced distortion of facts.
He acknowledged that members of ASUU were paid October salary “pro rata” and not half salary as the media widely reported. He said that the “pro rata” was done because they cannot be paid for work not done. He also denied that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay university lecturers half their salary. He said that Ngige only directed the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning to restore the salaries of the academics.
All concerned parties in suspense as they look out for what next to come.
After these incidents, parents and guardians, students and university lecturers are expectant of what is to come. In the last four years, ASUU has embarked on industrial strike action at least four times, the longest being in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic lasting for nine months. Before that, ASUU has gone on strike for more than five times. Concerned parties are beginning to view this tussle between FG and ASUU as normal occurrences, and some privileged students have started going with other options such as private universities and travelling abroad.
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The federal government is just making this isssue complicated, they should try their possible best to meet the needs of this lecturers and stop putting the life of innocent students in jeopardy
I really don’t know why it is taking the government so much time to settle ASUU, funds that are being wasted on unnecessary things so be diverted and used to settle these people
The ASUU and federal government issue is just so tiring now I am of the opinion that government could have paid a full salary for that month considering the facts that they have been on strike for good right months without pay and that one is still lingering by the side.
The way federal government is handling the ASUU issue is not good and this is sending bad signal to the international community about education system of the country.
Federal government just likes problem. Why do they have to pay ASUU on a pro – rata rate again. We know what went down before they can suspend the strike. Do they want them to strike again?
The president should look into this matter.
The federal government seem not to be holding up with their end of the bargain. Why should ASUU be paid for 18days as if they were casual workers. The government keep ruining the educational system.
The union’s deliberations on events following the strike’s suspension were made public by the national president, and the NEC expressed shock at the fact that academics have never before been paid on a “pro rata” basis, similar to casual workers, in the history of labor agreements involving universities.
FG don’t want to hold on to the agreement between them and asuu is better FG pay asuu their full payment not to cause anything that will stop running of school again enough time is wasted already
It is very unfortunate that the Federal Government is considering turning academics into casual workers through its pro rata payment for 18 days’ worth of work. This is something that should not be done.
this is because it would be unfair to the stakeholders if the strike continued while their demands were ignored, the union agreed to call off the walkout and resume normal operations.
Why do they have to pay ASUU on a pro – rata rate again? The federal govt is just making this issue complicated…. What are they trying to prove?
Is turning 4years course to 7-8 years appropriate? Moreover, the president might feel his tenure is about to come to end bringing reluctance to getting ASUU paid. I don’t blame him because it’s not affecting him in anyway but at least he should be considerate of young futures at stake because of unnecessary drama.
The union met to discuss the events that had transpired after the strike was called off, and the NEC expressed shock at the notion that academics should be paid on a “pro rata” basis, similar to that of casual workers.
This government self, they should pay them their full salary. Government need to keep to their word before another asuu strike start again
Honestly, this Buhari administration is extremely terrible and has performed woefully in education and health despite the promises made during their campaign in 2015 general election.
This is not simply an anomaly but also a violation of all of the well-established rules of conduct that are included in any employment contract for academics anywhere in the world.
The federal government should just fulfill its agreement with the union rather than jeopardizing the country academic session and delaying the students again
There have been more than five strikes by ASUU. Some affluent students have begun exploring alternative possibilities, such as attending private colleges or studying overseas, as they come to see the conflict between the FG and ASUU as more routine than it actually is.
There has already been too much lost time for FG to insist on upholding the arrangement they had with asuu, thus they have decided to pay asuu in full.
Such a terrible administration that careless about education. Presidency don’t have the students of Nigeria at heart. Their children is studying abroad why the children of the poor masses have their school here in Nigeria which is crippled by incessant strike. God go punish all these useless government.
The federal government is only adding more complexity to the situation; instead of endangering the lives of innocent students, it should do everything in its power to accommodate the demands of these professors.