ASUU Rejected FG's 23.5% Salary Increase Offer - Adamu

Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, outlined the Federal Government's efforts on Tuesday to resolve the February 14 strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

At a press conference in Abuja, Adamu announced that the government had offered the union a 23.5 percent salary increase "for all categories of the workforce in Federal Universities, except the professorial cadre, which will enjoy a 35% upward review."

According to Adamu, the government also promised that N150 billion "will 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."

In addition, the government promised N50 billion in funding "for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the first quarter of the year" in the 2023 budget.

However, the offer was rejected by ASUU and three other university unions that had been on strike, according to Minister Adamu, who described it as "inadequate to meet their respective demands needed to tackle the challenges confronting the university system."

According to an ASUU source, the union is seeking a salary increase of more than 100%.

While other unions, including NASU, SSANU, and NAAT, have subsequently suspended their industrial action following further negotiations with the government, ASUU has instead extended its strike indefinitely.

"We have done the best we could in the circumstances," the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Minister stated that the issue of 'no work, no pay' remains a major stumbling block in the negotiations.

"In the spirit of sincerity, Government made it clear that it would not break the law," Minister Adamu said.

"And on this, I must publicly and repeatedly thank all the Unions that made the sacrifice of understanding the Government's position on the matter."