The Federal Government has released funds to clear outstanding salaries owed to members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Federal Universities and to pay benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed on Saturday that payments to NASU members have already started, with many workers confirming receipt.
According to Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, the Federal Government is prioritizing worker welfare. “The Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities,” Mokwa stated. The release also confirmed that funds have been allocated to pay retirement benefits to members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme.
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The government’s action comes amid an indefinite strike launched by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Monday. The strike has brought activities across the nation’s universities to a halt, as NASU and SSANU members have protested four months of unpaid salaries, leaving university operations in limbo.
In a recent interview with The PUNCH, SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim highlighted the gravity of the situation. “For four months, university executives, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, have not received their salaries,” Ibrahim explained. He affirmed that universities would remain shut until all outstanding payments were made.
The OAGF emphasized that the release of these funds underlines the government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers and retirees. As university employees begin to receive their salaries, there is optimism that the ongoing strike may come to an end soon, allowing universities to resume normal operations.