ASUU describes payment of half salary as an attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers

Nov. 8, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the payment of half salary for the month of October, describing it as an attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers.

This is contained in a statement issued by the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke in Abuja on Tuesday after the emergency meeting of the ASUU National Executive Committee (NEC).

Osodeke said the union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike and NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university- oriented labour relations.

“Payment for 18 days as the October 2022 salaries of academics is unacceptable thereby portraying us as daily paid workers.

“This is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over,” he said.

He said at an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike.

He said the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust after the suspension of its strike on Oct. 14, was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics.

Osodeke explains that the action of government portrayed them as daily paid workers while stressing that it was not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.