The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed claims by the federal government that it released N50 billion to settle long-standing earned academic allowances owed to university lecturers.
ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with an online news outlet, stated that the union had not received any verifiable evidence of such payment and would not be swayed by mere verbal assurances from government officials.
“You said the government released N50 billion to ASUU, so why are you including other staff? Every union negotiates for its own members. It is not a collective,” Osodeke said, challenging the government’s narrative.
He stressed that, despite the announcement, there had been no documentation or direct evidence of fund transfer to the union. “We only heard of the release through the media. We’ve not seen the money, no official documentation, nothing. Until we see evidence, we will not accept the claim,” he insisted.
Earlier, the federal government had announced the release of the funds for both academic and non-academic staff of federal universities. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, via a statement titled “FG Releases N50bn Earned Allowances to Varsity Unions, Tinubu Reaffirms Education Priority”, signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education.
ASUU, however, maintains that the funds, if truly released, are yet to reach them, and they await tangible proof before acknowledging receipt.
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