Members of the National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will hold a crucial meeting on Monday to decide whether to go on a fresh strike.
The decision to convene the emergency NEC meeting, which is to be held at the ASUU National Secretariat on the University of Abuja campus, is coming on the heels of the October salary cut received by members of the union.
A NEC member who does not want his name in print told our correspondent that union members across all branches were disappointed with the action of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
The official stated that their members had confirmation from reliable sources that the minister had sent a letter to the relevant authorities, instructing them not to fully pay the lecturers’ salaries for October.
“I can confirm that ASUU NEC will meet on Monday, November 7, to take a decision on strike action or not. This is an aftermath of half-salary paid by the Nigerian govt.
“Branches say they are disappointed in the FG. The union should have a decision on the same day,” he told Daily Trust on the phone.
As of filing this report, the union president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, could not be reached for comments.
ASUU had called off an eight-month strike on October 14, following court rulings and the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.
REPORTERS AT LARGE earlier reported that the University of Jos chapter of ASUU has resolved not to resume lectures until the Federal Government pays them their backlog of salaries, as agreed with the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
The union described as an insult the payment of 17 days of prorated October salary to its members by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the directive of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
