Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala said President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated interest to wade into the latest concerns raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over half payment of their salaries by the Federal Government.
He appealed to the members of the union to remain calm in view of this latest development.
In a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Monday, the Speaker said that efforts to find lasting solutions to the concerns frequently raised by ASUU were on.
He noted that the NASS is currently working on the 2023 Appropriations Bill, which includes N170 billion to provide a level of increment in the welfare package of university lecturers, adding that the Bill also includes additional N300 billion revitalization funds to improve the infrastructure and operations of federal universities among other steps taken.
Gbajabiamila however, said the position taken by the Executive that it was not obligated to pay salaries to lecturers for the time spent on strike is premised on the law and the government’s legitimate interest in preventing moral hazard and discouraging disruptive industrial actions.
He noted that the challenges facing Nigerian tertiary education are multifaceted hence the need for all stakeholders to come together and proffer solutions.
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