To put an end to the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which has crippled educational activities in the Federal and State Tertiary Institutions for over Six Months, the Federal Government has stated that it can only afford a 23.5 per cent salary increment for lecturers.
This development was made known by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who said that the Federal Government is set to increase the salary of lecturers by 23.5 percent for lecturers, while a 35% increment will be enjoyed by Professors.
The Minister also noted that President Muhammadu Buhari warned against signing agreements which the Government will not be able to meet.
Adamu disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking during the meeting with Vice Chancellors and other stakeholders in the University system.
He said: ”The Federal Government can only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all category of the workforce in Federal Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review.
Henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services are rendered and to the staff who perform
them.
“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, and that a sum of N50 billion shall 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”.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, the Pro-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Peter Okebukola, noted that the Government was ready to go all out to ensure that the University lecturers return to school.
