NANS Urge FG To Rescind Decision On Half Salary, Says Action Will Dampen Lecturers Morale

By Akinwale Kasali

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has condemned the Federal Government”s decision to pay University Lecturers half salaries in October over  the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike.

ASUU had called off its eight-month long strike mid-October, necessitating the payment of half salaries only for the month. The FG says it will not pay for work not done.

NANS in a Statement on Thursday, November 10, 2022, signed by its Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator and Public Relations Officer; Adegboye Olatunji, Alao John and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa respectively, said the Federal Government has failed to prioritise education under the present administration.

It stressed that paying half salaries to lecturers was capable of dampening their morale, which in turn, will affect the students.

NANS: “The actions, inactions and body language of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration have left us with no doubt regarding the low priority on education under this government.

“And like the proverbial King who reigned during a period of widespread discomfort, the degeneration and acute deterioration experienced in the educational sector will not be forgotten in a hurry by Nigerians.

“Just as Nigerian students are finally able to smile after the suspension of an eight-month-long ASUU strike, the Federal Government in their usual retrogressive inclinations has deemed it ‘wise’ to pay half salaries to members of ASUU. This ill-advised action, if allowed to stand, will not only set a bad precedence, but ruin the already tattered morale of our lecturers and further weaken the already debilitated trust between the said union and the government.”

It stated that ASUU listened to the plight of millions of undergraduates, Nigerians and  intervention by well- meaning individuals and suspended its strike action, but the actions of the FG has dampened the joy.

“Ironically, those directly appointed and being paid from our commonwealth to oversee education and Labour matters namely: Mallam Adamu Adamu (the Minister for Education); Dr. Chris Ngige ( the Minister of Labour and Employment); and Festus Keyamo (the Minister of State for Labour and Employment) made meagre contributions to the development.

“As a matter of fact, we have it on good record that Ngige particularly was willing to crash the entire sector just to bring ASUU on its knees and massage his own fragile ego.

“From all indications, if drastic measures aren’t taken, the Federal Government and its overpaid employee; Ngige seems ready to bury the entire educational sector,” the students said.

NANS claimed that if ASUU choose to boycott work again as a result of the decision of the FG, “the government might as well forget about tertiary education completely.”

The student body, sympathising with the lecturers, said while the no-work-no pay policy may make sense in some instances, the peculiarity of Nigeria’s educational system must be prominently recognised and seriously considered.

“It is well established that upon resumption of academic activities, lecturers must continue from where they had stopped before the strike, and therefore perform all expected responsibilities.

“Consequently, the Federal government has no ground for paying only half salaries.

“As the leadership of all Nigerian students in the entire South-West, we demand that our intellectuals and the moulders of our collective future be accorded their deserved respect and their dignity not be tampered on.”In addition, procedure to pay the remaining balance of their remunerations should be put in motion immediately,” NANS concluded.