UNIABUJA management not cause of ASUU members withheld salaries — VC

The Vice-chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah has said that the institution is not responsible for the withheld salaries of academics under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UniAbuja chapter who are currently on strike.

ASUU members in the institution have been on strike for over 40 days over matters related to appointing a new VC. The lecturers had also accused the management of withholding lecturers’ salaries.

But the VC in a statement obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday noted that despite the ongoing strike, the management of the institution approved payment of salaries to all academic staff despite the “no work no pay” policy of the Federal Government.

“University Management approved payment of salaries  to all academic staff, and included with magnanimity, even those on strike who deserve no salary because of the activation of  ‘No Work No Pay’  policy of the Nigerian government in the University.”

Na’allah further noted that the management of the institution was in contact with the government to inquire what was responsible for the delay, “and the information available to us is that it might be from a glitch in the  Remita.“

The VC noted that the management is however surprised that  ASUU branch leadership which along with some of its members walked out on their students and have refused to work for more than a month now,  and “who ordinarily deserve no salary,  are the ones first to cry wolf and working to blackmail the University.

“It is unfortunate and painful to Management that the academic staff are subjected to this suffering, especially those who laboured day and night to make life meaningful for their students. What is important to us, at the moment, is that the IPPIS has since confirmed that May 2024 Academic Salary has been released for payment and the continued delay now being experienced might be from the Remita and not from Management,” the VC said.

On Saturday, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, and the Congress of University Academics of the University of Abuja lamented their unpaid salaries by authorities of the institution.

But the institution’s branch of ASUU which has been on strike for 41 over the move by the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’allah to advertise the position of VC of the institution 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.