ASUU Leadership Denies Knowledge of Tinubu’s Directive on Salary Arrears

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has refuted any awareness of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to disburse four out of eight months of withheld salary arrears to its members.

Professor Christopher Piwuna, the National Vice President of ASUU, made this assertion during an interview on the sidelines of a scholarship presentation event for university undergraduate students in Bauchi Zone, hosted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Yelwa Campus, Bauchi.

On October 20, 2023, Tinubu had authorized the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order imposed on ASUU members following their eight-month strike, which spanned from February 14, 2022, to October 17, 2022.

However, ASUU, through Prof. Piwuna, maintained its lack of awareness regarding these developments. When questioned about the status of the four-month salary arrears, Piwuna declared, “We are not aware that the government has awarded money to anybody. We are not aware. As a union, we are not aware of that.”

Meanwhile, Professor Nanmwa Voncir of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, expressed concern over the recent increase in public university fees.

He attributed the rising fees to the compromising stance of student union representatives, warning that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds face the risk of dropping out.

Voncir, a former ASUU Chairman at ATBU and Zonal Coordinator for Bauchi Zone, criticized the federal government’s claim of insufficient funds for education.

He emphasized the need for collaboration between the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and other student bodies with ASUU to advocate for proper university funding and oppose policies detrimental to student welfare.

Expressing disappointment in the student leadership’s alleged compromise, Voncir highlighted a previous instance where student representatives supported a fee increase at ATBU, a move initially opposed by ASUU.