Nigeria’s University body ASUU, rejects N150,000 monthly pension for retired lecturers, may go on strike 

Nigeria

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has decried the N150,000 monthly salary being paid to retired lecturers saying that the economic downturn cannot sustain such a paltry amount.

The Union informed that retired lecturers, especially those who downtools in 2024, have continued to suffer untold hardship characterized by chronic health, taking care of  children and grandchildren, rising cost of basic social amenities etc, and have continued to lament harsh economic realities as a result of the insufficient funds received as pension.

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday in Jos, the ASUU President, Comrade Christopher Piwuna, said that the union has for two years waited patiently for the government to meet its various demands but it seems that the federal government is not listening.

According to him: “Our retired colleagues continue to bear the brunt of the government’s anti-people’s policies, manifesting in galloping inflation at 21.88% and rising cost of electricity, transportation, housing, communication, food and medication. 

“We will no longer tolerate a situation where those who fought for the sustenance of the universities will be treated with such disdain. 

“A situation where a senior academic who has served for over 40 years ends up with a monthly salary of N150,000 is unacceptable and cruel in the current economic realities. 

“Our retired colleagues are battling chronic health conditions and caring for children they have trained beyond university degree, but they remain unemployed. Our retired colleagues are taking care of their spouses, children and grandchildren, with a paltry amount as pension. The government must reverse this ugly trend”, Piwuna said.

He added that the insistence of ASUU on the establishment of a university-based Pension Fund Administration (PFA) was part of efforts to guarantee the welfare of its members and other workers in the university system at retirement, but laments that the union is not pleased with the level of commitment to the welfare of lecturers who retired since the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), in 2024. 

The ASUU President said the National Executive Council (NEC), has resolved to give the federal government time to address the issue as well as other pending issues arising from a meeting that will be held on August 28.

“This meeting will inform the Union of further steps in addressing our demands, and calming our membership after over 2 years of waiting.

“Well-meaning Nigerians (NIREC, NANS, Traditional Institutions and the National Assembly), should advise the government not to stampede us into any action. While we appreciate the over 2 years of No strike, our tanks are empty and we cannot continue this journey.

“NEC and the national leadership would like to appreciate our members for their patience with leadership, against your overwhelming vote to embark on an action, we gave this government two (2) and a half years to sort this issue out. 

“We want to call on our members to come out en masse to participate in the rally across our campuses next week. This rally will be the first shot at the government, and it will signal many other things to come. We reassure members that we will act without let or hindrance in addressing the challenges ahead”, ASUU said.

The Union summarised it’s demands to be Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, Sustainable funding of our universities,  Revitalization of universities and Victimization of our colleges in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO