ASUU-NAU Cautions Over Strike, Seeks FG”s Approval To Settle Unpaid Salaries
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (ASUU-NAU) has cautioned over strike following delay of the Federal Government to honour its memorandum of understanding reached in 2009.
The Chairperson of ASUU-NAU, Comrade Innocent Nnubia who made this known during the Union’s protest in the institution, in which the members carried placards with several inscriptions including “We Don’t Need Your Lian, But Pay Us What Is Due to He,’ Stop Victimizing Our Third Party Deduction,’ “Stop Suffocating University Lecturers,’. ‘ Pay. Us Our Alliances,’. ”FG Allow Lecturers Breathe,’ ‘Our Students Are Suffering, Lecturers Are Suffering,,’ ‘End Poverty Level Salaries,’ ‘and ‘Release Our Arrears of Promotions for 4 years.”
Nnubia urged the Federal Government to address the demands of the Union which according to him was long overdue. He called on the Federal Government to return to the negotiation table for an immediate conclusion of re-negotiations of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement and sign the draft agreement to facilitate improved salaries and benefits.
According to him, the union demands for the immediate release of 3 1/2 salaries withheld in 2022 out if 7 months owed, payment of outstanding 25- 35% salary arrears and release of third- party deductions.
He hinted of demand by ASUU for the payment of promotion arrears to members who have been promoted but have not received their entitlements. .
Nnubia called for sustainable funding of Universities, urging for an education budget of at least 26% of the the national budget.
The union, he noted, was not intetested in strike, but if the need be, would not fail to joun its counterparts if called out for an industrial action, affecting the academic calendar and the overall education system in Nigeria.
On her response, the Vice Chancellor of NAU, Professor Carol Arinze- Umeobi lamented that the hardship the university has been passing through from 2019 to 2022, stressing that it could no longer be tolerated.
Represented by Professor Pius Okoye, a member of the Governing Council, Umeobi further regretted that the grievance has gone to the extent of peeling the skin of the academics in which some of them have lost their lives during the strike.
