ASUU threatens strike over payment reduction

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ibadan chapter, on Friday threatened to embark on strike if the shortfall in the payment of salaries and allowances of its members continued.

The union said it would stop any attempt by the Federal Government to increase the suffering of its members by reducing their entitlements.

The Chairman of ASUU in the school, Dr Deji Omole, who stated this in Ibadan, said over N140m was deducted from the personnel fund sent to the university by the Federal Government in the month of February.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-academic Staff Union of Universities also allegedly experienced huge shortfall of fund from the FG.

The union boss further called on the Minister of Education to look into the issue before universities would be thrown into another round of crisis.

He said, “This government has consistently shown with her policies that it is anti-workers and anti-masses.

“How can a staff that was only paid a part of his salaries be accused of being overpaid? They should explain to us what is meant by overpayment before they destroy public universities with their latest method to enrich their friends.

“ASUU vows to resist this latest attempt to make life more difficult for the intellectual community.

“The public should not blame the union but the government who unilaterally reduced the salaries of lecturers without justification should this lead to another unrest on campuses.”