The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka chapter, on Tuesday joined the nationwide protest of the union, lamenting that lecturers have been on the same salary scale for 16 years despite worsening economic realities.
The protesting lecturers, led by the branch chairman, Innocent Nnubia, blocked parts of the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway and marched across the university campus carrying placards with inscriptions such as “End poverty salary now,” “FG stop deceiving us,” and “We don’t want loan, pay us our money.”
Nnubia said the federal government has failed to implement the renegotiated 2009 Agreement, which was due for renewal in 2012, describing the situation as “a show of shame.”
“As of 2009, a professor earned about $3,000 in salary, but today it is less than $400. This is pitiable and unacceptable,” Nnubia said.
UNIZIK Lecturers Demand Back Pay and Fair Treatment Amid Rising Tensions
The lecturers demanded the release of three and a half months’ withheld salaries during the 2022 strike, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of over four years’ promotion arrears, sustainable university funding, and an end to the victimisation of members in some institutions.
They also accused the government of failing to remit third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions, calling it a “criminal act to withhold workers’ money.”
The union warned that it could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the federal government continued to ignore its concerns.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Carol Arinze-Umobi, represented by Council Member, Pius Okoye, commended the lecturers for their peaceful protest and promised to convey their grievances to the relevant authorities. Punchng.com
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