Varsity strike looms as NASU alleges secret ASUU-FG deal on allowance

Varsity strike looms as NASU alleges secret ASUU-FG deal on allowance

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has expressed concerns over a suspected secret agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the disbursement of a ₦50bn earned allowance.

NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that favouring ASUU over other unions could trigger a new wave of industrial unrest.

Adeyemi, who was speaking at the Universities and Inter-University Centres Trade Group Council Meeting in Abuja, disclosed that the government had promised to release the N50 billion for earned allowances in August 2022, but payment has yet to be made.

The union suspects that the government intends to allocate the entire amount to ASUU alone, citing an exclusive invitation to ASUU for a stakeholders’ meeting on the earned allowance.

READ ALSO:

• Despite trade spat with US, China exports rises 12.4%
• Tinubu not in France for medical attention –  Presidency
• Eedris Abdulkareem: I didn’t attack Seyi Tinubu with my new song

Adeyemi highlighted past grievances over unequal division of funds between academic and non-academic staff, stating, “When they want to share the money, they give 20 per cent to the three non-teaching staff unions and 70 per cent to the academics. We protested this.”

The union demanded a fair and inclusive allocation of the N50bn, emphasising that selective payments would breach agreements and deepen divisions within the university system.

NASU also expressed frustration over the failure of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to fully integrate assets and liabilities, affecting non-teaching staff.

The union condemned the illegal stoppage of union dues in some institutions, citing labour laws.

NASU also criticised the government’s failure to pay arrears and the delayed renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which stalled in December 2024.

The union warned that unless the earned allowance is distributed fairly and issues surrounding IPPIS and pending agreements are resolved, it will not hesitate to take industrial action.

Varsity strike looms as NASU alleges secret ASUU-FG deal on allowance