FG says ASUU rejected its best offer of 23.5 percent salary increase offer

By our reporter| The minister of education, Adamu Adamu has outlined the federal government’s efforts to resolve the industrial action embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities on February 14.

Adamu, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said the government had offered the union a 23.5 percent salary increase “for all category of the workforce in federal Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review.”

The government, he further stated had also promised that a sum of N150 billion “shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalization of federal universities, to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year.”

Also, the government pledged a sum of N50 billion that would be provided “for in the 2023 Budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the First Quarter of the year.”

According to him, ASUU and three other unions rejected the offer, describing it “as inadequate to meet their respective demands needed to tackle the challenges confronting the university system.”

ASUU is seeking over a 100 percent increase in salaries, while other unions – NASU, SSANU, and NAAT – have subsequently suspended their industrial action.

“We have done the best that we can in the circumstance,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the issue of ‘no work, no pay’ remains a major obstacle in the negotiations.

“In the spirit of sincerity, government made it clear that it would not break the law,” Minister Adamu said.

“And on this, I must, openly and once again, thank all the Unions which made the sacrifice of understanding the position of Government on the matter.”