ASUU: FG concedes, agrees on salary increment, other offers

As part of efforts at ending the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the federal government says it has agreed to a 23.5 per cent salary increase for lecturers of all categories, except professors.

At a meeting between the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, pro-chancellors and vice-chancellors of federal universities in Abuja on Tuesday, the government also made other offers regarding the demands of ASUU.

Adamu disclosed that the federal government could only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all categories of the workforce in federal universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review.

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“That henceforth allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services are rendered and to the staff who perform them.

“That a sum of N150 billion shall be provided for in the 2023 budget as funds for the revitalisation of federal universities, to be disbursed to the institutions in the first quarter of the year.

“That a sum of N50 billion shall be provided for in the 2023 budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the first quarter of the year.”

The minister, however, said ASUU and other unions — Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) — rejected the offer of salary increase.

“The four university-based unions, in separate letters addressed to the chairman of the government re-negotiating team, rejected the government’s offer, which they described as inadequate to meet their respective demands needed to tackle the challenges confronting the university system,” he said.

He, however, said the federal government remains committed to addressing ASUU’s demands in the effort to ensure that students resume studies soon.

At a media briefing after the meeting, Ben Goong, spokesperson to the education minister, said a 14-member committee has been set up to address the “grey areas” relating to the demands by ASUU.

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He listed members of the committee to include Nimi Briggs, chairman, ASUU/federal government negotiation team; Olu Obafemi, chairman, governing council, Federal University, Minna; Udo Udoma, former minister of budget and national planning; and Bashir Dalhatu, an elder statesman.

Others are Kabiru Bala, vice-chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Kayode Adebowale, vice-chancellor, University of Ibadan; Lilian Salami, vice-chancellor, University of Benin; Duro Oni, president, Nigerian Academy of letters; and Akinsanya Osibogun, president, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Charles Igwe, vice-chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); and Abubakar Rasheed, executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), were also listed as members of the committee.