The payment of the withheld salaries of academics under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, has commenced.
Sources in the academic sector revealed on Monday that the Federal Government started the payment.
According to the chairperson of ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, the payment has started. Confirming this development, He said, “Yes, it is true. Payment has started rolling in.”
Prior to the commencement of the payment, President Bola Tinubu Tinubu had in October 2023 approved the release of four of the eight months’ ASUU withheld workers’ salaries.
The salaries were withheld when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ against some university-based unions that embarked on a strike that lasted eight months in 2022.
While the payment commences, it was also confirmed by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, that the government has increased the university workers’ salaries by 35 per cent.
Interestingly, the universities have been removed them from the Integrated Payment and Payroll Information System. According to the minister, the government has granted them autonomy.
Another crucial information disclosed was that the universities no longer need a waiver to recruit and fill vacancies.
Mamman also said the resolutions were reached through informal consultations with the unions based in the tertiary institutions.
