Metro
To end strike, ASUU demands evidence of initial payment of N50billion
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said only the commitment of the Federal government to the payment of N50 billion out of the N200 billion naira earned allowances could bring the ongoing two month old strike of lecturers to an end.
The Union added that until the government provides a concrete evidence of the revitalization fund, the scheduled meeting today would not yield fruitful result.
The Union President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi who spoke in Ibadan at the weekend said the lecturers rejected the proposed 20bilion while he advised the federal government to incorporate its demand into the 2019 budget before it is passed by the National assembly.
Ogunyemi said: “We want them to pay immediately N50billion as a sign of commitment this quarter and for the next three-quarters government can pay N50billion in each quarter.
“So our members have rejected the 20billion proposed by them that will be spread over two quarters in 2019. Our members have insisted on the release of at least N50billion.
Read also: ASUU gives least acceptable conditions to end strike
“In relation to earned academic allowances which they have an outstanding N105billion our members are saying that even if you (Government) are releasing N20billion let it be stated clearly that it is only for ASUU members and the balance which you promised to pay in four installments, attach timelines to the balance and figures.
“In 2017, this government promised to mainstream the earned academic allowances into the budget so that we won’t be coming to talk about arrears.
“If government had put that into the 2018 budget, we would not be talking about arrears now. Our members are saying government should take steps to mainstream it into the 2019 budget and that is not late because they (National assembly and executive) are still working on the budget.”
He blamed the political elites for the poor state of education in the country.
: “Those peddling the falsehood are the same ruling class. They have forgotten that we lecturers also have our children in public universities.
They want to weaken the public university education so that children of the poor will continue to suffer. We will not allow them to mess up the university education.”
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...