The Federal Government has paid lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for 17 working days in the month of October.
NewsClick Nigeria reports that members of the Union, on October 14, 2022, ended their eight-month-old strike. The lecturers were also said to have commenced work same day.
However, the Union had pleaded with the Federal Government to clear the backlog of salaries owned them since February that the strike started. But the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen Chris Ngige had insisted that the ‘no work, no pay’ rule will stand.
The Government also went ahead to formally register two new university unions, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) days before ASUU called off the strike
In a confirmation of its stance, the Federal Government only paid the lecturers for the two weeks they worked in October. NewsClick Nigeria could not verify as at press time if the Government would still clear the backlog of salaries or would stick to the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
Professors and senior members of the Union who spoke in confidence with The Punch on Thursday said the Government only paid half salaries.
A senior member of the National Executive Council, said, “We were only paid for the days after the strike. I received a half salary. Other members are angry right now, they are blaming the NEC for calling off the strike.”
Another member, who confirmed the development, said, “Yes, it is true, I received half salary. It seems the government is set to kill unionism in the country but we are ready for them.”
