ASUU strike: Why we paid lecturers half salaries for October – FG

The Federal Government has given reasons why it paid lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, half salaries for October.

This was contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

ASUU members were surprised when they received 50% of their salaries this week.

It signalled that the Government had reneged on the mediation by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives had waded in the industrial dispute between the Union and FG.

However, the government has come out to explain that members of ASUU were paid their October salary pro-rata.

It also noted that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, did not instruct the Accountant General of the Federation to pay ASUU members half salaries for the month of October.

The statement read in part: “Following the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, asking ASUU to go back to work, the leadership of the union wrote to the Minister, informing him that they have suspended the strike. The Federal Ministry of Education wrote to him in a similar vein. And our labour inspectors in various states also confirmed that they have resumed work.

“They were paid in pro-rata for the number of days that they worked in October, counting from the day that they suspended their industrial action.”

Meanwhile, the ASUU National Executive Council, NEC, will on Monday hold a crucial meeting. To deliberate on the next step to take, following the half salary payment by the government.