Top Stories
BREAKING: ASUU: Why FG Paid Varsity Lecturers Half Salary
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has given reasons why it failed to pay full salaries to lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Naija News reports that ASUU and many Nigerians had slammed the federal government for deciding to pay lecturers half salaries for the month of October despite owing them for eight months due to the industrial action embarked upon by the association on February 14th.
Reacting to the backlash in a statement on Saturday, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment noted that members of ASUU were paid their October salary pro-rata.
According to the ministry, pro-rata was done because they cannot be paid for work not done, adding that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, never directed the Accountant General of the Federation to pay the university lecturers half salaries.
The statement reads in part, “Following the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, 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 him 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 in pro-rata for the number of days that they worked in October, counting from the day that they suspended their industrial action. Pro-rata was done because you cannot pay them for work not done. Everybody’s hands are tied.”
The federal government also dismissed the accusation made by the Chairperson of ASUU, Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto branch, Muhammad N. Al-Mustapha, who claimed that Ngige approved payment of salaries to selected professional members of the union.
“Those obviously being referred to by the UDUS ASUU chairperson were members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association who abstained from the eight-month strike of ASUU because they abhorred the incessant strikes by the union and its grave effects on medical education in Nigeria and production of more medical doctors.
“Accusing the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, of biased payment of salaries to selected professional members of ASUU, is a barefaced distortion of facts. Mustapha said he received information that a segment of the staff in the College of Health Sciences has been paid seven months of their withheld salaries from March to September, due to a letter written to the Minister of Finance, instructing the exemption of the under-listed staff on the application of ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule.
“To set the records straight, the medical lecturers who are being referred to by the Chairperson of the ASUU UDUS branch, abstained from the eight-month strike of ASUU. This has been corroborated in a press statement by the Chairman, MDCAN UdUS, Dr B. Jubrin and Secretary, Dr I. G Ango, on Friday, November 4, 2022,” the ministry said.
Quoting from Dr Jubrin’s press statement, “Realising the emergency situation in the sub-region worsened by emerging public health threats, the medical and dental lecturers in UDUS decided to continue the academic activities during the ASUU strike to save our healthcare from total collapse. To this end, the UDUS medical lecturers agreed to conduct lectures and examinations during the period of the strike.
“In line with the provisions of the Labour Act, we wrote and sought the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, to ensure payment of our salaries. The Minister, having carefully reviewed our submission and that of the university management, obliged. This is not an act of favouritism as alleged by ASUU, UDUS branch leadership in their press statement.
“ASUU, UDUS branch, as an association, is expected to protect the interest of all her members and appreciate the differences or peculiarities of medical education. The ASUU can legitimately fight for its lawful rights without tramping on the rights of others who are also university staff. We hope that this response will put issues in their proper perspective.”
Breaking: FIRS Announces Fresh Recruitment, See Eligibility Criteria, Application Deadline
Primate Ayodele’s Prophecies For 2025
Tinubu’s Aide Condemns Plan To Reinstall ‘Jesus Is Not God’ Banner In Lekki Mosque
President Tinubu’s reforms not responsible for food stampedes – FG
I will be more influential in Nigeria than UK – Tobi Adegboyega
Petrol To Sell ₦935/Litre From Today – IPMAN
2025 Budget Cannot Address Nigeria’s Economic Challenges – Atiku
NIGERIAN BREWERIES PARTNERS OZA CARNIVAL
CAF Made Me Believe I Won – Achraf Hakimi
Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury to tetain heavyweight title
Nigerian Emergency Agency NEMA Puts All Offices On Alert Over Fatal Stampedes
We Will Bury PDP, Ibori’s Daughter Blows Hot
Emefiele: EFCC secures final forfeiture of 1.925 hectares of landed property linked to former CBN Governor
Breaking: Okija Stampede: Many Feared De3d @ Nestoil Obi Jackson’s Yuletide Event
Breaking: Abuja Stampede: 10 people including children feared de3d as they scramble for palliative…
News18 hours agoNIGERIAN BREWERIES PARTNERS OZA CARNIVAL
Top Stories6 hours agoTinubu’s Aide Condemns Plan To Reinstall ‘Jesus Is Not God’ Banner In Lekki Mosque
News6 hours agoPetrol To Sell ₦935/Litre From Today – IPMAN
Top Stories6 hours ago2025 Budget Cannot Address Nigeria’s Economic Challenges – Atiku
News6 hours agoPresident Tinubu’s reforms not responsible for food stampedes – FG
Entertainment6 hours agoI will be more influential in Nigeria than UK – Tobi Adegboyega
Top Stories47 minutes agoBreaking: FIRS Announces Fresh Recruitment, See Eligibility Criteria, Application Deadline
Top Stories3 hours agoPrimate Ayodele’s Prophecies For 2025