Ortom to striking ASUU-BSU: End Sympathy Strike or I’ll Stop Your Salaries

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Makurdi, Benue State – Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday warned that he might stop paying the salaries of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benue State University (BSU) branch if they fail to end the ongoing sympathy strike with the national body. The governor emphasized that the sympathy strike had exceeded the allowed three days, and he appealed to lecturers to return to classrooms in the interest of Benue children.

Governor Ortom, while addressing concerns from parents and students affected by the strike, noted that he had continued to pay the salaries of the striking lecturers despite their actions. He expressed disappointment that the strike was already taking a toll on students and parents.

In his words:

“I have been paying their salaries; I don’t know why the lecturers are extending their sympathy strike beyond the allowed days. Even at that I am still paying them.

Ordinarily there shouldn’t be any strike at the Benue State University, at least they wouldn’t have gone beyond the days allowed for sympathy strike.

So it is either they come back or I will stop paying them and I will use the resources for something else. What I give to BSU monthly is over N600 million, and they should appreciate what we are doing in that institution.

I have been doing that monthly, so I am appealing to them to return to the classroom. I have been patient enough and I am allowing them one month to rethink. I also urge stakeholders to talk to them.”

ASUU-BSU Response

When contacted, the ASUU-BSU Chapter Chairman, Dr. Tarnongu Kwaghfan, said the state government had not paid their June salaries. Dr. Kwaghfan stated:

“We have our own local issues which we have raised, and the Governor is also aware of these issues. So, if he says he is not owing salaries, but then June has not been paid.”

It is recalled that ASUU-BSU joined the national warning strike on February 14, 2022, but had not called off their sympathy strike despite repeated appeals by parents and students.

FAQs About the ASUU-BSU Strike

Why did ASUU-BSU go on strike?
ASUU-BSU joined the national warning strike on February 14, 2022, to support demands by the national body. They are also raising local issues, including unpaid salaries for June.

What is Governor Ortom’s stance on the strike?
Governor Ortom has appealed to lecturers to return to classrooms, warning that salaries may be stopped if they fail to resume teaching. He emphasized that over N600 million is spent monthly on the university, which should be appreciated.

Have the lecturers been paid during the strike?
According to Governor Ortom, salaries have been paid despite the strike. However, ASUU-BSU claims that June salaries are still unpaid, highlighting unresolved local issues.

How long has the sympathy strike lasted?
The sympathy strike has exceeded the allowed three days, prompting the governor to issue a warning for lecturers to return to work within one month.

What impact has the strike had?
The prolonged strike has affected students’ academic progress and caused distress to parents, leading to repeated appeals from both groups for the lecturers to end the strike.

Credit: SUNNYGIST, Vanguard