The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Thursday, called on South East state governments to review the salary structures of state universities in their region to be at par with the national benchmark, and the 25% and 35% wage increments implemented in other state and federal universities.
The Union bemoaned impoverishment of their members in South East universities, alleging that they can no longer fuel their vehicles and meet other basic health needs to remain fit on their jobs.
The National President of the Union, Comrade Chris Piwuna, made this call during ASUU Day celebration, entitled “Empowering Academics, Enhancing Wellness,” at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu State.
Comrade Piwuna who was represented by the South East Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Charles Ononuju, threatened that the union will withdraw the services of their members in South East State Universities, SESU, if the ugly development of poor remuneration is not addressed urgently.
Equally in his address, the Acting Chairman of ASUU, ESUT branch, Comrade Andrew Apeh, called for the mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance, EAA, of members in ESUT, which he said has been pending since 2008.
Comrade Apeh, reaffirmed the commitment of the Union to building a better nation through quality teachings, research and community services, adding that ASUU remains committed in promotion of members welfare which he said, is their fundamental rights, not privileges.
“Let us rise and fight for our rights! Our spirit of unionism must be reenergized for good,” he urged the members.
Equally in his presentation titled “State Universities, Challenges of Unionism and Unions,” a National Resource Person of ASUU, Comrade Ralph Ofukwu, enjoined members to shun clannish politics, especially in their support of Vice Chancellors in their universities.
Comrade Ofukwu, equally urged members to jettison the spirit of fear in their struggle for better welfare of their members, stating that members must speak up to condemn abuses of rights in their institutions.
Also in his presentation, the Chairman of ASUU at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Comrade Zubairu Abdulmumini, said that academia in Nigeria live between intellectual excellence and national frustration, stating that members of the Union need grants to fund their research endeavours.
He further stated that ASUU needs autonomy to protect universities from political interference and administrative overreach, adding that any nation which jokes with the academia cannot attain sustainable development.
The ESUT ASUU Day featured wellness and health talks as well as welfare presentation to deserving members of the Union.
