By Nicholas Ojo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday stated that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour relations.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila had on Monday said that efforts were on to find a lasting solution to concerns frequently raised by ASUU.
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Gbajabiamila made this known while appealing to the members of ASUU to remain calm in view of their latest outcry over the half salary paid to them by the Federal Government in October.
Members of ASUU had expressed bewilderment at receiving half salary for the month of October.
The Federal Government later explained the reason for the payment of half salary to lecturers, claiming they were paid for the number of days they worked in October.
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The National Executive Council of ASUU convened an emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja.
Leaders of the Union told Journalists that the lecturers would decide whether or not to resume strike following the payment of half salary by the government. Noting that the purpose of the emergency meeting is to discuss the payment of half-salaries to the lecturers.
However, the union in a statement signed by the Union President, Emmanuel Osodeke and issued on Tuesday, said they refused the attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.
The union seeks for the cooperation of Nigerians to continue to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.
The statement reads in part; “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.
“Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics, thereby portraying them 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.
“At an emergency meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike. NEC 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 this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.
“NEC commends the membership of ASUU for their perseverance in the face of 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 while 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,” the statement added.