‘We won’t suspend strike until Federal Government pays withheld salaries’ – ASUU President

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it would not call off its ongoing strike until the federal government has paid all withheld salaries of its members.

ASUU had reportedly agreed to suspend its nearly nine-month strike after the federal government promised to release N70 billion as earned allowance to the union.

The union had also said it would communicate the federal government’s offer to its members before announcing its stance on the lingering strike.

However, ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi in an interview with THE PUNCH, said the federal government should not expect lecturers to resume work without paying their withheld salaries.

Ogunyemi also said the union will make its report public later this week after its consultations.

He added that the union is currently working based on the timeline given to it by the federal government to pay the 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,” he said.

“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.”

The ASUU president also said he cannot single-handedly decide if the ongoing strike should be suspended or not, adding that members of the union would meet to take a decision.

“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,” he added.

“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 union had embarked on an indefinite strike in March over non-implementation of agreements and resolutions the federal government reached with it in 2009.