The Federal Government has dismissed media reports in some quarters alleging bias and selective treatment of half salary payment to ASUU members for the month of October.
A statement by the Head Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundu also debunks alleged claims by ASUU that their members were paid half salary for the month of October.
The statement describes both reports as grossly inaccurate, misleading and distortion of facts, pointing out that members of ASUU were paid their October salary pro-rata, and not half salary as reported in the media.
According to the statement, pro-rata was done because they cannot be paid for work not done in line with the provision of extant labour laws.
The statement further clarifies that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, never directed the Accountant General of the Federation to pay the university lecturers half salary, and pointed out that Dr. Ngige only wrote to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, directing that the salaries of ASUU members should be restored.
As a result, they were paid in pro-rata according to the number of days that they worked in October, counting from the day that they suspended their industrial action.