ASUU threatens to go on strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern about the continuous release of incomplete salary to public universities.

The Yola zone of the union, which comprised Adamawa State Univerisity, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Taraba State University, University of Maiduguri and Yobe State University, raised the concern in a statement Tuesday in Yola.

The statement read by the leader of the zone, Dr Musa Abdullahi, said the development made it impossible for some universities to pay salaries.

“The Yola zone of ASUU frowns at the posture of government on the release of incomplete salaries to public universities.

“This ugly trend, which began in November 2015, has continued unabated by the Federal Government.”

The statement said the development would compel universities to resort to commercial ventures to augment shortfall thereby commercialising university education.

“Should Nigerian public universities be coerced to begin to raise revenue from within to pay salaries, that will be the end for the education of the children of the masses.

“Any further shortfall in salary will not be accepted by the union and should the situation persist, then we are not in a position to guarantee industrial harmony,” Abdullahi said.

He called on government to pay the outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to deserving university staff, adding that the arrears of allowances had accumulated for seven years.

While announcing the union’s resolve to quit the contributory pension scheme, Abdullahi said ASUU planned to establish its pension company known as Nigerian Universities Pension Company (NUPENCO)

Source: Nigerian Eyes