ASUU to declare lecture-free day over withheld salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will declare lecture-free day across tertiary institutions to express its reservations about non-payment of its salaries.

Moyosore Ajao, chairman of ASUU in the University of Ilorin, confirmed the development to TheCable on Sunday.

ASUU had embarked on strike in February, which was later suspended following a court order in October.

Prior to the suspension of the strike, amid the back-and-forth deliberations over the demands of the lecturers, the federal government had threatened to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy — a decision the government later said would be reconsidered.

But after the suspension of the strike, the lecturers had said they got part-payment of one month salary.

Commenting on the development, Olajide Oshundun, head of press and public relations, federal ministry of labour and employment, had said ASUU members were paid their October salary pro-rata and not half salary as reported.

“They were paid pro-rata according to the number of days they worked in October,” Oshundun had said.

ASUU had criticised the federal government’s decision on the salaries, while Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, had said interventions are being made to resolve the issue.

Speaking on the planned lecture-free day, Ajao said it won’t be on the same day for all institutions.

“It won’t be at the same time. Every branch will do their own on a different day. It’s just within the campus. It’s just making a statement,” he said.