BREAKING: ASUU Speaks on Embarking on Another Round of Strike

• ASUU is lamenting the federal government's alleged plan to turn lecturers into casual workers through its 18-day ‘pro-rata’ payment
• The union in its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, November 8, made it clear that academics are intellectuals
• However, during its NEC meeting, resolved that it will not be going on another strike after the recent one it suspended

The resolve of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, November 8, is that it will not embark on another industrial action.

However, ASUU's president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, decried the alleged move by the federal government to turn lecturers into casual workers through the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for 18 days, Leadership reports.

Osodeke in a press statement on Tuesday insisted that University lecturers are intellectuals, not casual workers, adding that the union's suspension of the last strike was in obedience to a court order and consideration of intervention by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

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Part of Osodeke's statement read:

“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 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..."

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ASUU half salary: Gbajabiamila reveals next line of action

FG ignores ASUU, begins payment of 8-month salary backlog to CONUA

In a move to spite ASUU, the federal government has commenced payment of the 8-month salary backlog to some lecturers who are members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

CONUA is the breakaway faction of ASUU.

A member of CONUA disclosed that the leadership of the union has already got a hint from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

Source: Legit.ng