The Federal Government has paid only one month of the four months of withheld salaries owed to members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). This revelation comes in stark contrast to the government’s earlier claims that all withheld salaries had been fully disbursed.
Falowo Olushola, Chairman of the SSANU at the University of Ilorin, confirmed this in a conversation with Media Talk Africa on Saturday. He noted that union members had anticipated receiving 50 percent of their withheld salaries, which equates to two months’ pay, rather than the single month that was deposited.
“We started receiving our alerts on Friday, reflecting one month out of the 50 percent promised,” Falowo explained. He emphasized that the ongoing strike by both unions would persist until their demands for full payment are met, unless directed otherwise by their national headquarters.
Falowo expressed frustration over the government’s approach to implementing a presidential order issued last year, which mandated the payment of these withheld salaries. The unions initiated an indefinite strike last week, intensifying their push for the payment owed to them.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the government and university staff, raising concerns about the impact on the education sector as the unions seek resolution to their grievances.
