The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is reportedly set to summon an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) after receiving half salaries for the month of October, 2022, from the federal government.
Brief background to the story
ASUU finally called off its eight-month strike on the 14th of October after the intervention of the National Industrial Court and the leadership of the House of Representatives. ASUU suspended the strike in obedience to the court ruling to resume work before a condition precedent for the appeal can be heard.
- In the speech suspending the second longest strike since 1992, the university union noted that “the issues in dispute were yet to be satisfactorily addressed.” One of which was the “no work no pay policy”.
State of play
As part of the matters arising, ASUU members are aggrieved that the federal government paid half of their salaries for the month of October, as against paying for the entire period, the university union was on strike. This is likely one of the grey areas which both parties (Federal Government and ASUU) failed to agree upon, despite the union suspending the strike back in October.
Looking forward
The next line of action by ASUU lies with the decision of the union’s NEC. But on the premise of the grievances held by members of the unions, it is only a matter of time before the university union embarks on another strike or returns to court.
- Neither of the above-mentioned scenarios is in the best interest of Nigerian students. On the flip side, the unaddressed demands do not outrightly improve the country’s educational system or the welfare of its lecturers.