The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the payment of half salaries for the month of October, describing it as an attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers.
This is contained in a statement by the National President of ASUU Professor Emmanuel Osodeke after its emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November, 2022.
According to Professor Osodeke, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike and NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on “pro-rata” basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university- oriented labour relations and therefore condemned it.
”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.
“At an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November, 2022, the Union deliberated on developments since the suspension of the strike. NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on “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”. Professor Osodeke stated
It says the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust after the suspension of its strike on the 14th of October was the so-called ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics.
Professor Osodeke explains that the action of government portrayed them as daily paid workers and stressed that it is not only an aberration, but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.
