Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted on negotiating its members’ salaries directly with the Federal Government of Nigeria, rejecting the N35,000 wage award already being enjoyed by other workers to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship
National President of the union,Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, announced the rejection of the wage award on Thursday during the inauguration of the University of Ibadan (UI) branch secretariat of ASUU in Ibadan
Osodeke stated that the union agreed that members should use whatever amount is legally deposited in their accounts, but clarified that this should not be considered their negotiated salary.
“We told them we should negotiate our wages, but they said we are giving you an award of N35,000. We have told them that it is not our own. We are still insisting that there has to be negotiated salary,” he maintained
He highlighted several unresolved issues with the Federal Government, including the renegotiation of the existing agreement, payment of withheld salaries, earned academic allowances, and the release of the Needs Assessment Funds.
Osodeke who lauded the UI ASUU branch for the building such a complex using the expertise of their members, criticized the practice of using external or foreign consultants for projects in the country.
He emphasized that the government should instead hire local experts, particularly those within Nigerian universities, as consultants.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnership, Prof. Yemisi Bamgbose, praised the union.
Adebowale stated that the secretariat would become a hub for intellectual discussion, collaboration, and solidarity among union members “as it continues to strive for a better future for our universities and our nation.”
UI ASUU Chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said that the secretariat was built without external donations. He acknowledged the union members who contributed financially and in kind to ensure its completion.
It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Independence Day in 2023 announced the N35,000 wage award for civil servants pending when a substantive minimum wage being negotiated is approved.
The wage award for workers is part of agreement reached with organized labour to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in June 2023 and the subsequent hike the price of goods and services notably food and transport
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