CONUA Demands Payment Of Withheld Salaries, Remunerations

• The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) calls on the Federal Government to promptly pay its members’ three-and-a-half-month withheld salaries and address stagnant remunerations.

• CONUA President ‘Niyi Sunmonu clarifies that the union did not participate in the ASUU strike and urges the government to recognize the distinction, emphasizing the union’s commitment to alternative measures.

• CONUA asserts that withholding salaries for three-and-a-half months violates the Trade Disputes Act, emphasizing the legal entitlement of workers to wages during lockouts, and demands immediate payment for lasting peace.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the Federal Government to immediately begin paying its members’ withheld three-and-a-half-month salaries, as well as stagnant remunerations.

In a statement on Thursday, CONUA President ‘Niyi Sunmonu appreciated the government for paying four months of the seven and a half months salaries withheld during the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. However, he urged payment of the remaining salaries, clarifying CONUA did not participate in the strike.

Sunmonu stated: “CONUA has consistently maintained that it never declared and was not part of any strike action. What the government had done was to lump together those who embarked on strike with those who did not!”

“This will give the impression that the Federal Government does not appreciate other measures besides strikes to pursue academics’ demands! This is against the judgment affirming CONUA as an independent union,” he added.

CONUA said withholding three-and-a-half months’ salaries contravenes the Trade Disputes Act stipulating workers are entitled to wages during lockouts. Sunmonu demanded the outstanding salaries be paid immediately to ensure lasting peace.

Additionally, he called for payment of stagnant academics’ remunerations, noting a September 2023 directive for 35% and 23.5% salary increments in tertiary institutions.

Sunmonu stated: “Of special interest is academics’ remuneration that has remained virtually stagnant since 2009 despite rising inflation. CONUA finds it appalling that one year after the directive, it has not been implemented despite academics’ suffering from inflation.”

CONUA also urged President Tinubu to “correct the error of dissolving Federal Universities’ Governing Councils without reference to the Universities Act,” in line with his commitment to university autonomy.

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