The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has described the payment of 18days salaries for the month of October, to lecturers as an aberration and contravention of all rules of engagement for academics all over the world.
In a statement made available to Journalists in Abuja, the ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike.
The National Executive Council of ASUU noted with dismay, that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour relations and therefore condemned the attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.
National Interest
ASUU stated that the suspension of it eight months strike was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations.
According to ASUU, ” This, we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government and Nigerian workers at large”
The Union added that the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was what it described as the “so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them as daily paid workers
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its eight-month strike on 14th October, 2022, in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila”
“The action of the Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations. This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government and Nigerian workers at large,” he stated.
ASUU NEC however commended the membership of ASUU for their perseverance for what it described as untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious agents of the ruling class.
NEC further appeals for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups.
He adds that the union continues to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.
Lateefah Ibrahim
