The Federal Government has commenced the payment of minimum wage arrears, which it owed lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as part of efforts to end ongoing strikes by the unions.
The National President of ASUP, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, and the Chairman, ASUU FUTMinna, Dr. Gbolahan Bolarin, confirmed this in separate interviews in Abuja. Recall that the two unions are currently reportedly on strike following the inability of the government to meet their demands including the payment of minimum wage arrears and release of revitalisation funds, among others.
READ ALSO :FEC Approves N169.7bn For Reconstruction Of 4 Roads Via Tax Credit Scheme
While ASUU commenced its strike on February 14, 2022, ASUP is currently on an initial two-week warning strike. Confirming the payment, Ezeibe said that was just the beginning, as the government has started responding by paying the salary/minimum wage arrears. However, he said it is just one of the demands, so they have not reached anywhere as government has not attended to the others.