Fear for Possible Strike as ASUU Meets to Discuss Half Salary Payment

Highlights

• ASUU meets to discuss half payment of salary to its members by the federal government.

• Other academic unions affected by the federal government's incomplete salary payment express displeasure.

• The planned meeting by ASUU raises concern over the possibility of another strike by the academic union.

ASUU Meets to Decide Action Over Payment of Half Salary

T(caps)he Academic Staff Union of the Universities, ASUU, says it is meeting to decide on the next action to take after the federal government failed to pay their full salary as agreed.

The union reported that the federal government only paid its members half of their salaries for October, a payment that amounted to seventeen days for the entire month. This had raised concern and agitations among the union members who had been on strike for months without receiving their payments.

The national chairman of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, while addressing newsmen on Thursday stated that ASUU would meet to deliberate on the federal government's action and also look forward to how the union can react.

"Yes, we were paid half salary for October and that is not what we expected. However, as an organized union, we are meeting soon to deliberate on the issue and take appropriate actions," Osedeke said, according to a report by the Vanguard Newspaper.

Academic Unions Affected By the Half Salary Payment

The half salary payment does not only impact ASUU but other unions like the Non-academic staff union of Education and associated institutions (NASU), SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and CONUA.

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) had also reacted to the incomplete salary payment by the federal government. The union expressed their displeasure over the federal government's decision to involve them in the half-salary category.

CONUA's national coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu, in a statement described the government's decision as unfortunate.

He added that CONUA members were still working while ASUU members were on strike, hence, the federal government had no reason to give them a half payment of their salaries.

Fear of Possible Strike After the Meeting by ASUU

Recall that ASUU embarked on the strike on February 14, 2022, to press home its demands from the federal government.

The strike which ended on October 14, 2022, after months of failed negotiations was fast-tracked by the Appeal Court's decision for the ASUU to resume work.

The payment of half salary to ASUU members by the federal government is raising more concern over what may be the outcome of the whole intricated rivalry.

It is expected that the fragile relationship of the union with the federal government may force the union into another strike. However, the union executives still can hold talks with the federal government and settle the salary issues amicably to save Nigeria's academic system from further collapse.