Union threatens strike over reduced varsity allocation

olamide oni

April 28, 2016 1:43 PM

They accused the federal government of contributing to the threat to peace in the Nigerian university system by not sending enough money to pay salaries.

ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Benin zone, has threatened to embark on industrial action over shortfall in university allocation.

Zonal Co-ordinator, ASUU, Benin Zone, Prof. Anthony Monye-Emina in a statement, said that it was an unfortunate and sad development that the federal government was contributing to the threat to peace in the Nigerian university system by not sending enough money to pay salaries.

Monye-Emina added that the use of co-operative, welfare savings and union dues to make up for the shortfalls and the ridiculous handouts in whatever guise in place of salary was unacceptable.

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Prof. Monye-Emina said the union should not be held liable for any crisis in the Nigerian university system.

He noted that most universities were under the burden of severe financial crisis, stressing that government was yet to proffer an explanation on when it would end.

“In universities where full salary is seemingly paid, deductions for co-operative societies, welfare associations, union dues and so on, come in arrears. This implies that such deductions are accumulated to be able to make full payment of salary in subsequent months after which remittance is made.”

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“In essence, university staff savings is what is used to augment the shortfall. It is important to note that this accumulation of deductions/remittances is exclusive of tax deductions. This implies that tax deductions are remitted as at when due to the same government that does not feel obliged to avail the universities the full complement of their allocations. This development is in addition to shortfall in running, operational, logistics and other costs.” Emina said.

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