By Aiyeku Timothy
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said it would not end the ongoing strike until government paid all withheld salaries of its members it withheld.
The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who made this claim on Sunday, said government should not expect the lecturers to resume without paying the withheld salaries.
It was earlier reported on November 27 that the union had agreed to end its strike with the Federal Government also agreeing to release N70bn to ASUU as earned allowance.
Ogunyemi said consultations are ongoing among members while waiting for the government to fulfil its promise of releasing members’ withheld salaries as that must happen before the strike can be called off.
“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. 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,” he said
While emphasizing that he cannot determine when ASUU would suspend the shrike, Ogunyemi added that at the end of the week the union would take a final decision if the salaries are not paid.
“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.
“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,” Ogunyemi added.
