The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has responded to claims by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration that it has released the sum of N50 billion to settle university lecturers entitled to long-standing allowances.
ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, in an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Wednesday said the union has not received any verifiable evidence of such payment and would not be swayed by just pronouncements from the federal government.
"You said that the government released the N50 billion to ASUU, but why are you bringing other staff? Every union negotiates for its members. It is not a collective," Osodeke questioned.
He further corrected the misinformation being spread by government spokespersons, insisting that ASUU was only verbally informed and has not seen any documentation or transfer of funds.
"I have not even seen the report about the release of the fund. We are aware of it, but until we see evidence, we won’t believe them," he said. "We only agreed verbally. We have not seen the money."
It was also reported that the government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had announced the release of N50 billion to settle earned allowances of the non-academic and academic staff unions of federal universities
This was announced by the country’s Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, on Wednesday through a statement titled “FG Releases N50bn Earned Allowances to Varsity Unions, Tinubu Reaffirms Education Priority”, issued by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education.
The statement said that the move “stands as yet another testament to Tinubu’s longstanding commitment to fundamentally change Nigeria’s education sector.
It clearly reveals the administration’s bold resolve to transition the nation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy through strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and human capital.”
“This intervention is not just a financial transaction, it is a reaffirmation of our President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them,” the statement said.
“By prioritising their welfare, we are laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education.”
“Notably, the country is currently experiencing one of the longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent history—a feat attributed to the mutual understanding and shared commitment between the government and the university community,” the statement added.