The Federal Government has been under fire from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for paying lecturers only half their regular wage in October.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke issued a statement on Tuesday, November 08, 2022 in which the union denounced the “pro-rata” payment to its members and said that the government was trying to turn Nigerian scholars into temporary employees.
He claims that the ASUU National Executive Committee (NEC), which met on Monday, November 07, 2022 to discuss the situation, expressed shock at the development and noted that “paying academics on a pro-rata basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labour relations.” As a result, the NEC “condemned this attempt to completely reduce Nigerian scholars to casual 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,” the union leader exclaimed.
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Following a resumption decision from the National Industrial Court, ASUU ended its eight-month strike on October 14, 2022.
The Federal Government defended the pro-rata payment made to ASUU members in October over the weekend, claiming that they cannot be compensated for work that has not been completed.
Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment, denied media accusations that the government had a prejudice against compensating university professors through the ministry’s spokesman, Olajide Oshundun.
“They were paid in pro-rata to the number of days that they worked in October, counting from the day that they suspended their industrial action,” the statement partly read.
“Pro-rata was done because you cannot pay them for work not done. Everybody’s hands are tied,” he said.
