*Faults payment of half salaries
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the payment of half salary for the month of October, describing it as an attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday after the emergency meeting of the ASUU National Executive Committee (NEC), said the union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike and noted with dismay that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers, was unprecedented in the history of university- oriented labour relations.
In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ASUU 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.”
Prof. Osodeke said at an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike.
He said the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust after the suspension of its strike on Oct. 14, was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for 18 days as the October 2022 salaries of academics.
He explained that the action of the government portrayed them as daily paid workers while stressing that it was not only an aberration but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.
However, the Federal Government had denied the accusation that it paid the lecturers half salaries in October.
Mr Olajide Oshundun, Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, said this in a statement at the weekend in Abuja that the ministry was reacting to reports on alleged selective treatment and half salary payment to ASUU members.
He described both reports as grossly inaccurate, misleading and barefaced distortion of facts.
He noted that members of ASUU were paid their October salary pro-rata, and not half salary as the media widely reported.
According to him, pro-rata was done because they cannot be paid for work not done.
He also said that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, never directed the Accountant General of the Federation to pay the university lecturers half salary.
“Following the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), asking ASUU to go back to work, the leadership of the union wrote to the Minister, informing him that they have suspended the strike.
“The Federal Ministry of Education wrote to Ngige in a similar vein and our labour inspectors in various states also confirmed that they have resumed work.
“So, the minister wrote to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, directing that their salaries should be restored.
“They were paid pro-rata according to the number of days they worked in October,’’ he said.
He added counting from the day they suspended their industrial action, pro-rata was done because “you cannot pay them for work not done. Everybody’s hands are tied.”