By NewsBits
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka chapter, on Tuesday, protested the non-payment of salaries by the Federal Government of Nigeria, warning that the country should be ready for “the mother of all strikes!”.
NewsBits recalls that the union had on February 14, 2022, embarked on strike for the reported refusal of the Federal Government of Nigeria to honour their agreement of 2009. Also, NewsBits reports that such agreements included increment of salaries every three years, revitalization of universities, among others.
It was learnt that the Federal Government of Nigeria had in October, paid the ASUU members quarter salaries which they described as “simply palliative”.
Some of the placards brandished by the protesting lecturers read: “Our Government Does Not Honour Agreement”, “ASUU-UNN Protest Rally: We Say No To Intimidation By Government.” “Kill Education, Kill the Nation”, ASUU – Protest Rally – No Pay, No Work”, “No Payments, No Results, “Pay Us Our Salary Backlog”, “Say No To Bad Government. ASUU Lives Matters,” among others.
A lecturer who craved anonymity for security reasons told newsmen that the salary was not a full payment but a quarter/October half salary for the month of October 2022. He bemoaned the fact that “it seems to me that the federal government of Nigeria has no word like sincerity or truthfulness in their own dictionary. Otherwise, why is it so difficult for them to show common sense of sincerity after an agreement is reached?”
The Don further said: “This is not salary! That is not how IPPIS pays or captures their notification for salaries. On this note, I call for calm. People shouldn’t panic unnecessarily. What we received thus far is simply a palliative for upkeeps.”
Speaking further, another member of the ASUU, said: “I received a half salary. Everyone is angry right now, some are lamenting how do they pay their landlords, and take care of other bills.” Yet another member, who confirmed the development, said: “We will be going to another strike by January if the arrears were not paid.”
The varsity, therefore, agreed: “Not to submit the result of the First Semester Examination for the 2021/2022 session.”NewsBits recalls that ASUU called off its 8-month-old strike on October 14, 2022. Lecturers were encouraged by the union to resume duty on that same day. But the protesting lecturers were seen carrying various placards with different inscriptions, protesting non-payments of salaries inside the school environment. They vowed that they were not willing to resume academic activities if their salaries were not paid completely.
