Again, ASUU cries out over ‘unlawful’ deductions in lecturers’ salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again raised alarm over what it called “unilateral deductions” in workers’ salaries in both Federal and State universities across the country.

Speaking at a press conference held at the University of Lagos on Tuesday, the Coordinator of ASUU Lagos Zone, Professor Olusiji Sowande, said in some instances, as much as 40 per cent reduction was recorded.

He said, “In February 2017, virtually all the Federal Universities were affected with government unilaterally cutting the salaries of university workers. The percentage reduction varies from one university to the other, and above the 8 per cent claimed by government officials.”

Citing examples from universities in the zone, Sowande said the total salary shortfall at the University of Lagos in February 2017, was N125 million, while that of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, was N55.5 million.

The Union also criticised the Ogun State Government for its decision to establish a third university “when the existing ones are not adequately funded.”

“The story is not different in the State Universities, especially Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) where inadequate funding and meagre subvention have forced the administrations in these two universities to be sourcing for funds through various means (including jerking up of tuition and other fees being paid by students) to meet their salary obligations”

The Coordinator further said while the Lagos State University (LASU) “seems to be paying salary”, it remained “the only university that has not paid any fraction of the agreed Earned Academic Allowances since 2012.”

He said it was unfortunate that the salary component of the 2009 Agreement which would have “ensured that the emoluments of Nigerian academics are comparable with that of their colleagues in other African countries” was never implemented. He therefore described the deductions as “uncharitable, insensitive, inhuman, wicked and highly provocative.”