ASUU: FG explains why academics were paid only half as much

Members of the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) will not be paid by the Federal Government (FG) for work that has not yet been finished.

Recall that on Thursday, ASUU members demonstrated against the Federal Government’s plan to pay them only half of their salaries.
The lecturers alleged that in October, they were only paid for 18 working days.

The Federal Government claimed that ASUU members received their October salaries pro rata in a statement released on Saturday by Olajide Oshundun, the ministry’s head of press and public relations.

Pro-rata, according to the government, was employed since academics cannot be paid for work that is not finished.

It continued by stating that Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment, had not given the Accountant General of the Federation instructions to pay the lecturers half of their salary.

After the Court of Appeal affirmed the National Industrial Court of Nigeria’s order for ASUU to return to work, the union’s leadership wrote to the Minister to advise him that the strike has been suspended.

Similar correspondence from the Federal Ministry of Education and confirmation that they are back to work from our labor inspectors across several states were sent to him.

“The Minister then requested that their pay be reinstated in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning. As of the day they concluded their industrial action, they were paid pro rata for the amount of days they worked in October. Because you can’t pay someone for labor that isn’t done, pro-rata was used. Everyone’s options are limited, part of the statement read.

ASUU went on strike on February 14, 2022, to demand an improved academic environment and the welfare of its members.

However, on October 14, the union called off its eight-month strike and mandated that lecturers immediately resume their academic duties.