UNILAG ASUU protests against half salaries, warns of fresh strike

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, yesterday, urged stakeholders and students to demand the reversal of Federal Government’s action on the half salaries paid lecturers for October.

The aggrieved lecturers, during a peaceful rally from the Julius Berger Auditorium of the university premises, to the school main gate, held a big banner and placards with inscriptions, “Ngige, be mindful of history, ASUU would outlive you,” “Teachers teach the nation but Ngige cheats the teachers,” “No work, no pay and pro-rata salaries are punitive measures against renegotiated agreement,” among others.

The Branch Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, who spoke during the rally tagged, ‘The Casualisation of Intellectualism in Nigeria,’ said the rally/congress was organised to draw government’s attention to lecturers’ grievances over the half salaries they received, which according to him, may provoke another fresh strike.

He said that the half pay, which is a “novel action in the annals of industrial relations by the Federal Government,” should be reversed before another crisis erupts in the nation’s public universities.

Also, Chairman, University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the union, Ayo Akinwole, while addressing members, urged government to restore normalcy fully to the education sector by implementing the demand of the union.

He described government’s action towards the academic members as repressive, capable of causing more dangers for the university communities and the students.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Taiwo Soweto, has alleged that the government was creating potholes for incoming administration by failing to amend ways with the union.

He, however, urged the students to remain calm as they join their lecturers to protest against the half salaries.