N25bn earned academic allowance: FG commences payment to varsities

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of N25 billion
earned academic allowances of members of the Academic Staff Union
of Universities to universities.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny
Echono, disclosed this to The Nation in an interview on Monday in
Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The permanent secretary said the government has resolved all
issues concerning earned academic allowance of members of ASUU.

He blamed the delay in paying the money on lack of trust on the
part of the union.

According to Echono, the government initially released N20
billion to the union as part of earned academic allowances of
members of ASUU, noting that the union held on until President
Muhammadu Buhari approved additional N5 billion to bring the earned
academic allowances of the union to N25 billion.

“They fought for an increase in amount and which union should
get more, academic or non academic. They said until it is complete
they didn’t want to be paid in batch.

“Initially, N20 billion was agreed but at the last minute before
they signed, they pushed for 25 billion.

“But N20 billion was released and they were holding on,
believing that if they collect the N20 billion government will not
bring the N5 billion.

“There was a whole long issue on that but we have got Mr.
President to approve the additional N5 billion.

“This has been resolved and payment has commenced.”

ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, when contacted, said he
was collecting feedbacks from its members before he could comment
properly on the issue.

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