Strike Likely? Suspense as ASUU Members Plan Emergency Meeting Over Withheld Salaries

Cursory: The Accademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced that it is going to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the withheld salaries of it’s members following FG’s refusal to pay salaries for the period there were on strike. See details below.

Remember that ASUU had embarked on a strike that lasted 8 months. Following the strike, were a series of power tussle between the union and FG, from failed negotiations, to NANS protest, to the registration of ASUU factions and FG eventually withholding the salaries and lecturers protesting and demanding their pay.

The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities is reportedly planning for an emergency meeting to discuss the withheld eight-month salary arrears of their members by the federal government.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who confirmed the planned meeting, said that the date for the meeting had yet to be decided by the National Executive Council of the union.

But speaking with PUNCH, ASUU President said, “We (NEC) had met before now and reached resolutions but will meet again to decide on the next step to take, and when we do so, we will let the public know.

“But what I can assure you is that we will meet very soon, and take a decision on this issue of withheld salaries. The FG must pay up these debts. It is our right.”

“We have given the government some time to see if there will be any improvement, but they have done nothing. We are collating reports from our members and will take action,” he said.

While lamenting the situation, he said lecturers in Nigerian universities were going through hard times.

“Our members are passing through difficult times while they are doing the same work the FG said they did not do and were not going to be paid for.

“We are doing all these in the interest of the country but this will not be forever. We will certainly meet very soon and take a proper decision at that meeting,” he added.

He also mentioned there was no headway on the discussions between the lecturers and the Federal Government, noting that the legal battle between them would continue this February.

Read also: 2023 Elections: ASUU Explains Why NUC Can’t Shutdown Varsities for Students to Go and Vote

ALLSCHOOL TEAM