FG Poor Offer that was Reject by ASUU

Recalled the much anticipated ASUU meeting with FG on Tuesday that got millions of well-wishing Nigerians, especially students and parents affected by the ongoing 6-month ASUU strike, hopeful? and how the meeting ended in deadlock?

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) management has revealed the “miserly offer” made by the federal government and gave reasons why the union in one voice, rejected the offer.

In a statement issued by ASUU on Thursday, August 18th, after the resumed meeting of the federal government and ASUU over the six-month-old strike, the Union president revealed that it rejected the “award” of salary by the federal government and here’s why it’s considered “Miserly”.

According to the Port Harcourt Zonal coordinator, the federal government’s offer was to increase the salaries of professors by N60,000 while other lecturers would have their salaries increased within the range of N30,000 (thirty thousand Naira) and N60,000 (sixty thousand Naira) too.

This same ISSUE CAME UP in the 2020 ASUU Strike: Here’s a quick READ: Federal Government Has agreed to pay all ASUU Salaries, BUT…

The Port Harcourt zonal coordinator, Stanley Ogoun, in a chat with Punch.

Stanley Ogoun further disclosed that the federal government promised to release the revitalisation fund of N170 billion which would be included in the 2023 budget.

Ogoun said: “Well-meaning Nigerians, parents, and students affected by this strike should be aware of offers the so-called minister came up with. These include:

1. 170 billion Naira for revitalisation in the 2023 budget;
2.  A promise to increase by N60,000 the salary of a professor at the bar in next year’s budget;
3. No statement on the amendment of the National University Commission Act gathering dust at the National Assembly,
4. payment of two tranches of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance in next year’s budget;
5. A promise to adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution;
6. Another promise to release the white papers.”

The Port Harcourt zonal coordinator said that the minister’s offer was deceitful and insulting to the striking union:

“Imagine the level of deceitfulness by the minister! A promise to fulfill demands when we have just few months before general election? We did not embark on strike for over six months geared towards improving our public universities only to come back with mere promissory notes from a government that is notorious for breaking and pulling out on agreements. I’m sure Nigerians would not forgive us if we call off this strike over mere promises by this government.

Speaking on the government’s stance on withholding the striking union’s salaries, amid claim that we do not deserve the salaries. We are confronting Nigeria’s federal government to prove if all the unproductive staff who are on the payroll for the stagnant and dying refineries and other agencies of similar nature are not getting paid.

We are challenging the government to share with Nigerians, why unproductive politicians that are responsible for the current comatose state of Nigeria are receiving enormous salaries and allowances.