ASUU protest incomplete check-off dues pay by FG; CONUA demand payment of withheld salaries of members

The Federal Government has released half of the November 2022 check-off dues deducted from the salaries of all lecturers of federal universities in the country to the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment’s spokesman, Olajide Oshundun, in an interview, said the decision of the government was based on the failure of ASUU to submit its audit reports.

The chairperson of ASUU, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof Gbolahan Bolarin, told a reporter on Sunday that the government remitted half of the money deducted from the salaries of members adding that the government made full deductions from the salaries of members.

Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of its members and those of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

CONUA said the factional academic body was not part of the strike by ASUU and so its members should be paid because they did not refuse to teach.

It also urged the government to tackle accreditation fraud in universities.

These are contained in a communique issued by its President Dr Niyi Sunmonu at the end of its maiden National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the weekend, held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The union urged the Federal Government to make education cheap by ensuring an uninterrupted academic calendar in universities.