Following yesterday’s overnight National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents, and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups as it seeks a positive resolution to the issue at hand.
According to the academic union, it will work to resolve this avoidable crisis in a positive manner that does not jeopardize the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that ASUU, which made this appeal in a statement, said it is rather unfortunate that the government’s response to the union’s demonstration of trust was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics, which they say is not only an aberration but a violation of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.
The academic union, which bemoaned how lecturers are now paid like casual workers, said at an emergency NEC meeting yesterday that it had deliberated on developments since the strike’s suspension.
It characterized the situation as unprecedented in the history of university-related labour relations and thus condemned the entire attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers.
The union also praised its members for their fortitude in the face of untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious ruling-class agents.
The statement furthered that;
The Academic Staff Union of Universities suspended its eight-month strike on 14th October 2022, in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The action of the Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations.
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 the 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.
At an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee held on Monday, 7th November 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike. NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on a 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.
NEC commends the membership of ASUU for their perseverance in the face of untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious agents of the ruling class.
NEC further appeals 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.