The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it would not end its ongoing strike until government paid all the salaries of its members it withheld.
This was made known by the President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a telephone interview with the PUNCH on Sunday.
According to Ogunyemi, government should not expect the striking lecturers to resume without paying the withheld salaries.
Ogunyemi further stated that ASUU was still with the government and other stakeholders, as it awaits the fulfillment of the promises made by the government to release its members’ withheld salaries.
“We are still consulting; we have not finished consultation, by the end of this week we shall make our report public. There are promises government made with dates. Government promised to release salaries of our members. The withheld salaries have not been paid and we need to have information on that. Government should not expect us to resume without releasing our salaries.”
He emphasised that once the timeline expired this week without the salaries being paid, the union would take a final decision.
Ogunyemi also said that he could not determine when ASUU would suspend the strike.
“I can’t vouch for anything about resumption, but my members will determine that. The only thing I know is that payment of withheld salaries can smoothen the process and that is what we have told the government. It will aid the final decision.
“The government gave a timeline and we are monitoring, once the timeline expires this week, our members will take a final decision. If they pay the withheld salaries, it will make the process easier to handle.”
The government had on November 27, agreed to release N70bn to the striking lecturers as earned allowance, making everyone believe the union had agreed to end its 8 months strike.
