Nothing To Celebrate Over N50bn Earned Academic Allowance – ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says there is nothing to celebrate over reports of an approval to pay N50 billion of the accumulated earned academic allowances owed its members by the Federal Government.
The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said while the N50 billion will only pay two of the eight years accumulated allowance, the government cannot be trusted until payment is made to members of the union.
It could be recalled that Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, last week announced the release of N50 billion by the government to settle unpaid earned allowances of federal university workers nationwide.
“We heard the information through the media just like every other Nigerian as there is no official communication yet to us on the matter.
“Though we had a verbal communication with the Minister of Education few days ago on the matter, it is not enough conviction to us.
“It is a common practice for successive governments in Nigeria to make promises and not fulfill them.”
He said it baffled the union that the Federal Government was celebrating the release of money for earned allowances as if it is the major issue it needed to address with regards to the issues affecting Nigerian universities.
“The earned allowance is just one out of many issues and even at that, the N50 billion can only settle two out of eight years’ being owed,” he added.
The national president said that ASUU wants the government to first conclude the renegotiation of their 2009 agreement, capture new salary scale and allowances for all university workers, the injection of revitalisation funds to universities, and what ASUU members can forfeit as regards allowances on their part out of the eight years’ arrears as a sacrifice, among others.
