Nigerian University lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has come out to assert that it has not been informed of any pay rise given to lecturers in federal institutions by the federal government.
This clarification was made in an interview yesterday by Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke who is the National President of the union.
He was reacting to a circular issued by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation regarding the increment.
“We have not been informed of such a development and when we are officially notified, we are going to react,” he told reporters.
However, the National President of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said he was aware of the circular.
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He went further to add that the pay rise was not enough, but that his union would not reject it. “In fact that circular ought to have taken effect many months ago. We met the then Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, over the matter. The thinking then was that the circular would be made public last March and the effective date of its effectiveness would be as from January this year and the arrears paid.
“What they are offering is not enough but we are not rejecting it. However, this is to be taken different from the general upward review of salaries of public workers in view of the current economic crunch in the country,” he said.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that the FG had earlier opposed 25% pay rise for lecturers, when it raised that of professors by 35%.
However, in a Circular No: OAuGF/ SW/C/QP/1395/VOL.1/11, dated September 21, 2023, issued by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the Auditor General said the implementation was approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting.