BREAKING: ASUU Replies to FG’s Threat, Says “We Cannot Die”

• ASUU has replied to the federal government's threat that it would not pay its members' salaries for the period of its industrial action
• The union spoke through its Lagos state chapter chairman, Adelaja Odukoya, who was in doubt if the government have the knowledge of how the university system works
• Odukoya noted that for over six months now, the university lecturers have not been paid they have not died, and they will not die if the government continues to withhold their salaries

Yaba, Lagos - The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it appears the federal government is confused about how the university system works and that the union will not be bothered by the decision to invoke the ‘no-work, no-pay' policy by the government.

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The union stated this on Thursday, August 18, while reacting to the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, statement that the withheld salaries of the lecturers would not be paid to serve as a deterrent to any worker planning to go on strike in the future, Vanguard reported.

The union, which spoke through its Lagos state chapter chairman, Adelaja Odukoya, said the claim that the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) developed by the union to replace the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, did not pass the integrity test, was far from the truth.

Odukoya, a member of the national executive council (NEC) of ASUU, said:

“If they have not paid us for six months and we did not die, we cannot die now.

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“But they must be told that they are going to pay us our salaries, that is sure. The job of a lecturer involves teaching, research and community development and if we are not in class now, we are doing those other things."

ASUU: Tension in Buhari’s cabinet as education minister denies Ngige's claim

Legit.ng earlier reported that the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has dashed the hope of the over six months ASUU strike coming to an end soon as he denied getting two weeks ultimatum from President Buhari.

Contrary to what Chris Ngige, the minister of Labour and Employment, told the media, Adamu said he was only directed by the president to end the strike within the shortest time.

Adamu hinted that 5 of the university-based unions would likely call off their strikes in one week's time but was not certain about ASUU.

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Source: Legit.ng