Your 8-month withheld salaries will be paid soon - ASUU National President

By Agency Report

Prof Emmanuel Osodeke the National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has assured members that very soon Federal Government will pay the 8-month withheld salaries of members in 2022.

Government had in 2022 withheld 8-months salaries of ASUU members who embarked on nationwide strike in public universities from February 14 to October 14 2022 to enforce government  policy of "No work no pay".

Osodeke gave the assurance in Nsukka on Wednesday in a remark during a seminar cum foundation laying stone of ASUU UNN  branch secretariat.

He said that with the present unity in the union,  government had no option rather than to pay the withheld salaries

"The reason government and their agents have continued to  try  creat disunity is to ensure  members will not speak in one voice.

"But I am happy that every attempt by government to create disunity  even by withholding  members salaries failed.

" I am assuring you that very soon, your 8-months salaries will be paid because ASUU leadership  will  use all legitimate means to achieve this," he said.

According to Osodeke, this was not the first time government withheld salaries of members because the union embarked on nationwide strike.

The president noted that  after all said and done government paid
withheld salaries, 2022 own would not be an exception.

Osodeke who had earlier laid the foundation stone of UNN branch of ASUU secretariat before the semainar, commended the UNN-ASUU for the secretariat.

"I commend Dr Christian Opata, UNN-ASUU Chairman and his members for the secretariat, which when completed would be one of the biggest ASUU secretariats in the country.

"I also commend Opata whose adminstration brought back ASUU -UNN to the mainstream of the union

"Is my prayer that,  the secretariat will be completed before the end of this year," he said.

Speaking on the theme of the seminar "The strength of the union and it's principles" Prof  Nasir Fagge, who was ASUU national President between 2012 and 2016.

He urged members to understand the principles of ASUU which he said was what made the union strong in every circumstance.

Fagge said if every member of the union understood the principles  of the union every strategy by government in power to create disunity  among members would continue to fail.

The former president said that, the withheld salaries was government deliberate strategy to weaken the strength of the union but government strategy had failed woofly as the union had remain united.

"If government strategy is not to create disunity why did government failed to recognize the non-victimisation clause which has been part of  our negotiation with government in the past," Fagge asked.

Earlier Opata, chairman ASUU UNN branch commended Osodeke for visiting their branch as well as Prof Charles Igwe the UNN Vice Chancellor for approving the land for the sitting of the secretariat.

"We wish to specifically thank our Comrade President, Prof Osodeke and, his team for honoring our invitation and laying the foundation of our secretariat complex.

"We also commend Igwe and his management team for challenging the branch leadership to build a secretariat by granting our request for a parcel of land.

"Though long and overdue, especially given UNN age and history in the union, the branch sees today's event as a sign of showing a fresh and undiluted commitment to the affairs of our union," he said.

Opata also thanked the branch members for showing commitment to the union, especially in this trying times, assuring them the ASUU-UNN branch leadership will remain resolute in the interest of their members.

NAN reports that, Osodeke was accompanied to the event by some national executives as well as some ASUU branch Chairmen across the country.