The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that its members won’t resume work despite the federal government’s payment of minimum wage arrears.
This was contained in a circular by the University of Lagos branch of the union titled, ‘Payment of minimum wage arrears.”
The circular read, “The leadership of our Branch has been inundated with calls concerning the recent payment of the long-overdue arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.
“Our members are reminded that this is not one of the core demands upon which the ongoing strike action is premised.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the demands of our Union are the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, abrogation of the fraudulent and corrupt IPPIS scheme and the deployment of UTAS, payment of promotion arrears, the proliferation of State Universities and governance issues amongst others.
“While our Union welcomes this unsolicited payment, our members should please conserve the funds and spend wisely so as to energise our struggle until all our demands are satisfactorily met
“Our Union commends the resolve and sacrifice of our members in enthroning a University system that is globally competitive.
“United we bargain! Divided we beg! A people united can never be defeated. Solidarity forever”
The federal government had commenced the payment of minimum wage arrears, which it owed lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and Academic Staff Union of Universities as part of efforts to end ongoing strikes by the unions.
On February 15, ASUU began a four-week rollover strike following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the decision was taken after the union’s National Executive Committee meeting.
Osodeke said since the last meeting the union had with the federal government in December 2021, it had not received any formal invitation from the government.