*Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister for Education, declares the Academic Staff Union of Universities has called off its strike,  and the Federal Government has paid ‘what is due to them… they only did the number of days that they were paid’

*Education crisis will be resolved in the interest of students, parents, and the country, assures ASUU President

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the nationwide protests by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over part payment of salaries by the Federal Government October 2022  continue, the Federal Government has insisted that the University lecturers will not be paid for work not done.

ConsumerConnect reports Malam Adamu Adamu, Honourable Minister for Education, said this Wednesday, November 16, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, FCT.

President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the FEC in the State House.

It is recalled the controversial part payments followed the suspension of ASUU’s eight-month strike, in line with an order by the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the lecturers to return to work.

It’s a tactic to casualise lecturers in University system: ASUU President

In response to allegations by Prof. Emmanuel Osodoke, President of ASUU, that the part payments were simply a tactic to casualise lecturers in the the Nigerian University system, Malam Adamu stated that the government held no such plans.

Prof. Osodeke, Tuesday, reportedly criticised Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister for Labour and Employment,  over his alleged authorisation of the part-payment of salaries to members of the academic union.

The Minister said: “The strike has been called off and the government has paid them what is due to them.

“I think that is the position of the government, that it is not going to pay anyone for work not done and they only did the number of days that they were paid.”

He also asked: “How can anybody make a university lecturer a casual worker?

“It is impossible to make a university lecturer a casual worker.”

‘Ngige no longer a mediator’

Osodeke, while featuring on a Channels TV programme Tuesday, had criticised Chris Ngige for his alleged involvement in the part payment to union members for October this year.

The ASUU President stated: “He (Ngige) has gone to court, which means he has lost his right as a conciliator.

“Once he has taken this case to the Industrial Court, he has lost that right as a conciliator; he has no say again, but he’s still interloping.”

Asked what role the Minister of Labour currently plays in the matter, the ASUU president said, “He has nothing.

“He’s an interloper. If we’re calling him a conciliator, it has gone beyond him.”

Osodeke, however, expressed confidence that the agitations of the University union would be resolved in the interest of students, parents, and the country.

He added that professors on the same salary scale were paid varying amounts, such as N200,000, N180,000, and N90,000 respectively.