ASUU, CONUA members lament over unpaid salaries

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Congress of University Academics of the University of Abuja (CONUA), are lamenting their unpaid salaries by authorities of the University.

Though the institution’s branch of ASUU which has been on strike for 41 days today over the move by the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’allah to advertise the position of VC of the institution has vowed not to suspend its action, saying the action by the school’s authorities which was meant to break its rank, has rather made it stronger.

CONUA, who also claimed to have been working despite the ongoing strike by ASUU, are also affected by the nonpayment of salaries by the university authorities.

The university’s ASUU chairperson, Sylvanus Ugoh, accused the University administration of writing to the Accountant General of the Federation’s office to illegally stop ASUU members’ salaries in order to deter them and divert their attention from their legitimate struggle.

According to him, “All the authorities concerned are in the know of this illegality. NEC commended your efforts for your tenacity, resoluteness, and doggedness in the ongoing struggle even in the face of extreme hostilities and harshness.

‘The major focus of the NEC for NEC was the state of the National struggle among others, the Renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, all the backlog of EAA, and all the outstanding salaries.

“Branches are directed to mobilise themselves in the weeks ahead. For us in Uniabuja, we have never been found lagging in any action. We are already standing gallant and mobilised. You may be all aware that it is the University Administration that wrote to the Accountant General office to illegally stop our salaries in order to deter us and divert our attention from our legitimate struggle. All the Authorities concerned are in the know of this illegality.”

As of the time of sending the report, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Habib Yakoob, who was contacted for a response, was yet to react.