The federal government has been called out by some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for not paying their full salaries after resuming from an 8-months strike they embarked on.
Some members of the union who spoke to TheCable, said despite the suspension of the strike, the government is yet to pay them full salaries. Moyosore Ajao, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ASUU chairman told the publication;
“I’m yet to get mine but some of us who have received theirs got half salaries for October. We don’t know why they have to pay us half salary.”
A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who did not want to be named, also confirmed that he did not get full salary. He also it wasn’t clear what month the pay was for.
The lecturer said;
“What I got is not exactly half of my salary. But then, it’s not up to my usual salary. Basically, they didn’t pay full salary, that’s the right word for it. The month was also not specified.”
Also speaking to Punch, a lecturer claimed that some Professors received N121,000 as salaries in October.
The lecturer said;
“Some professors got an alert of N121,000. We are still waiting for an official statement from the government as to why they decided to pay us half salaries, though unconfirmed reports state that the decision came from the top.”
Confirming the development, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke said they are shocked over the payment made.
Osodeke also revealed the National Executive Council of the union will be meeting over the half-salaries paid to lecturers.
He said;
“Half salaries were paid, no reasons were given whatsoever. We learnt that Ngige wrote the office of the Accountant General and Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system and told them to only pay us for the period when we called off the strike.
“We heard there was a letter to that effect but we haven’t gotten it yet. We are going to summon a meeting.”
