As members of the National Executive Council (NEC), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) meets in Abuja, over the payment of half salaries to its members, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for calm.
The Speaker, in a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Monday, the Speaker noted that efforts to find lasting solutions to the concerns frequently raised by ASUU were ongoing.
He assured that President Muhammadu Buhari had indicated interest to wade into the latest concerns raised by the union, adding that the president remains committed to resolving all outstanding issues with ASUU.
Gbajabiamila also said the executive and the House of Reps had worked to address the issues that led to the strike, adding that the House is currently working on the 2023 Appropriations Bill.
This, according to him, includes N170 billion to provide a level of increment in the welfare package of university lecturers.
He said the bill included an additional N300 billion revitalisation fund to improve the infrastructure and operations of the federal universities.
“When the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called off their industrial action three weeks ago, it meant that academic activities could resume in our nation’s public universities, and students could return to their academic pursuits after the prolonged interruption. This decision was rightly heralded nationwide as the correct decision.
“Since then, the Executive and the House of Representatives have worked to address the issues that led to the strike. We are currently working on the 2023 Appropriations Bill, which includes N170 billion to provide a level of increment in the welfare package of university lecturers. The Bill also includes an additional N300 billion in revitalisation funds to improve the infrastructure and operations of federal universities.
“Furthermore, the House of Representatives has convened the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders to facilitate the adoption of elements of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This effort is being supervised by the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education, Rep. Aminu Suleiman,” the statement reads.
