The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has condemned the casualization of the Nigerian universities’ lecturers by the Federal Government, stressing that ‘pro-rata’ payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics portrays lecturers as daily workers.
This was contained in a press release signed by the ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke and titled, “We are intellectuals, not casual workers”.
The statement reads: “The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), suspended its eight-month strike on 14th October 2022 in obedience to the order of the National Industrial Court and in further consideration of intervention efforts of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Honorable Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The action of the Union was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary above all other considerations. This we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis but will also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between the government and Nigerian workers at large.
“Unfortunately, the response of government towards ASUU’s demonstration of trust was the so-called payment for eighteen days as the October 2022 salaries of academics thereby portraying them as daily paid workers! This is not only an aberration but a contravention of all known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.
“At an emergency meeting of the ASUU’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held on Monday, 7th November 2022, the Union deliberated on development since the suspension of the strike. NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on a “pro-rata” basis like casual workers is unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labour relations and therefore condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.
NEC commends the membership of ASUU for their perseverance in the face of untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious agents of the ruling class. NEC further appeals for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups while the Union continue to pursue positive resolution of this avoidable crisis within the ambit of legality without compromising the interest and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.”
