ASUU rejects FG’s offer, faces uncertainty over withheld salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continues to grapple with uncertainty as their quest for the release of withheld salaries resulting from last year’s industrial action faces a setback. The union recently lost a legal battle against the federal government, intensifying the challenges university workers are facing.

Following an eight-month strike in 2022 over issues such as university revitalization and salary reviews, ASUU filed a case against the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Accountant General of the Federation. The National Industrial Court (NIC) dismissed the case, granting an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing the strike.

Upon the union’s return to work, the federal government implemented the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, resulting in the payment of half salaries for 18 working days in October. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a partial waiver of the policy, ASUU members were required to sign a Document of Understanding, which they deemed unacceptable.

The court ruling also addressed a separate lawsuit filed by ASUU in June, describing the case as an abuse of court process. The NIC President, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, dismissed the case and awarded a sum of N500,000 payable by ASUU to the Attorney-General of the Federation.

ASUU, in response, has not received any official communication from the government regarding the waiver or the four months’ salary accruals out of the eight months withheld. The union remains steadfast in demanding their rightful salaries, emphasizing the need for fair treatment and proper funding of education in Nigeria.

ASUU’s stance reflects broader concerns about the state of the Nigerian educational system and the government’s prioritization of financial allocations. The union calls for a comprehensive approach to address the systemic issues leading to strikes and financial challenges in the education sector.