The Federal Government has initiated the disbursement of the previously withheld salaries of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Confirming this development to The ICIR on Monday, February 19, Muhammad AlMustapha, the ASUU chairperson of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, who is a professor of Pure and Applied Chemistry, affirmed the commencement of payments.
In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu waived the “No Work, No Pay Policy” of the Federal Government and authorized the release of four out of the eight months’ salaries that were withheld from ASUU members by the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. This action followed a strike by the lecturers from February to October 2024 to press the government to address their demands.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed that this waiver would enable previously striking ASUU members to receive four months’ worth of salary out of the eight months that were withheld during the industrial action.
Back in December 2023, the ASUU chairman at UDUS expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government had not disbursed any payment from the withheld salaries despite the resumption of work and completion of pending tasks during the strike period.
Regarding the recent payment, AlMustapha informed The ICIR that some members had started receiving salaries for March and April 2023, while others were still awaiting their disbursement.
