Nigerian lecturers, ASUU in University Of Jos directs members to stay at home over withheld salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos chapter in Plateau State, has given a new directive to its members.

The union directed its members to stay at home until their withheld salaries are paid.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the chairman of the ASUU chapter, Associate Professor Lazarus Maigoro after its emergency congress on Friday.

The union described as insult the payment of 17 days prorated October salary to its members by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the directive of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The Nigerian government had on Thursday paid half salaries to the striking university lecturers.

“In view of the bottleneck placed by Ngige towards paying our members the backlog of our salaries, the congress of ASUU, University of Jos met today 4th November, 2022 and resolved to stay at home, though not on strike until the backlog of the withheld salaries are paid,” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our members are back to work, willing and ready to work but are unable to work.

“Based on the revised academic calender for the 2020/2021 session approved by the senate of the univeristy, lectures should have started already but the challenge of lack of payment of salaries has constrained our members from going to the classroom to teach.

“What this implies is that the students who have resumed already will have to wait indefinitely while we wait for our withheld salaries to be paid to us, unfortunately. The struggle continues.”

The union explained that the strike was suspended ostensibly because of the court order that directed its members to resume work.

It added that its members were law abiding coupled with some understanding on some of the contentious issues reached with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila.

It further narrated that one of the issues agreed on at the meeting was that 50% of the eight months arrears of salaries would be paid to members immediately.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our members are back to work, willing and ready to work but are unable to work.

“Based on the revised academic calender for the 2020/2021 session approved by the senate of the university, lectures should have started already but the challenge of lack of payment of salaries has constrained our members from going to the classroom to teach.”

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