The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has maintained silence on going back on industrial action over the alleged half salaries payment to its members, but said it’s members were not casual workers and should not be treated like them.
The union however said it is considering legal action over what it described as “so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academic” by government.
It said the government’s so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment, is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics all over the world.
The President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who stated this after a National Executive Council meeting which started on Monday and ended on Tuesday, maintained that members of the union were not casual workers but intellectuals who cannot be paid on pro-rata basis.
He however maintained silence on the issue of going back on strike, but appealed for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups in the country.
The communiqué issued at the end of the NEC meeting and signed by the President of the union, Emmanuel Osodeke stated that government’s decision to pay academics like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour relations.
According to the communiqué, “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 the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7 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
