Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bayero University, Kano chapter, says it will no longer tolerate the payment of fractional salaries to it members by the Federal Government.
ASUU is challenging the Federal Government as well as State Government owned universities across the country to settle all outstanding shortfalls in salaries and to also take all necessary measures to curtail the menace of fractional of payment in the nation university system.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday, Mahmud M. Lawan, zonal coordinator, BUK chapter of ASUU, noted that the academic staff in the country is worried by the attitude of the President Buhari led administration to the development of the nation `s university system.
“Since December 2015, our members have been struggling to cope with the injurious after-effects of payment of fractions of their wages. In most federal universities only fraction of salaries are now being paid, with proportions as low as 40% in some universities.
“Government Spokesmen will tell you that the Government has been paying the balance of shortfall in installments. Presently however, the so called balances have not been paid since the month of August 2016.
“This capricious license, the Government takes with our wages, we can n longer condone. Matters are even worse in some state universities where members of staff often go for months without salary or half salary” he stated.
Lawan further explained that the Federal Government has also continued to deny staff in university schools salaries in utter breach of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement.
“In fact, an atmosphere of despair and frustration is now made to shroud our citadels of learning. You will recall that our Union embarked on a one –week warning strike on the 16thNovember, 2016 to prevail on government to address all the issues in contention as regards the full implementation of the 2009 Agreement including shortfall in salaries.
“To date, this problem has persisted in the universities and is generating palpable tension in the Nigerian University System which could lead to unpalatable consequences for the nation. During the strike, the Union interacted with the Senate President towards the resolution of the crisis.
“In fact, a resolution was reached with the Senate leadership to the effect that the senate will facilitate a process of virement of fund to address the shortfall. They informed our leaders that they will liaise with the executive to commence the process.
The zonal coordinator added that Kano Zone of ASUU has made it abundantly clear that fractional payment of salaries is not negotiable as this amounts to violation of right of workers to their remuneration and unacceptable.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
