The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with a resolution not to embark on another industrial action, following the payment of ‘half-salaries’ to members by the federal government.
The union, however, condemned the act taken by the federal government to turn the university academics to casual workers by using the “pro-rata” payment scheme.
In a press statement released on Tuesday after the NEC meeting, ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, emphasised that the university lecturers are intellectuals and not casual workers.
He noted that the union called off its eight-month strike on October 14, following the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and in consideration of the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the House of Representatives.
Osodeke said that the action of the Union to end the strike was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations.
The ASUU President, however, lamented the response of the government through the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for 18-day as the October 2022 salaries of the academics.
He said, “This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals, and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between Government and Nigerian workers at large.
“Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them 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.
“NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on ‘pro-rata’ basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university oriented labour relations and therefore condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.”
The ASUU NEC consequently appealed for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups while the union continues to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.
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