Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, says the federal government should do everything possible to resolve the crisis with the Academic Staff Union of Universities even if it warrants slashing lawmakers’ salaries by 50%.
Ndume stated this during an interaction with newsmen in Maiduguri on Thursday, as he reacted to the alleged half-pay to the ASUU members.
The former Senate Leader advised the FG to set up a high-powered standing committee of respected educationists and patriotic Nigerians to meet with the leadership of ASUU in order to find a lasting solution to the lecturers’ demands.
He said, “Even if it means that the National Assembly will reduce sitting allowances or be paid on casual allowances basis whenever they sit at the Lower and Upper chambers, by cutting the recurrent expenditure in the budget of the federal lawmakers to settle the ASUU arrears, let it be.
“We only assemble twice or so in a week and get paid as such.”
Ndume noted that civil servants who worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic were paid their full monthly salaries and allowances. “So why will the federal government cut university lecturers’ salaries because they went on legitimate strike? Constitutionally, they’re fighting for their rights and privileges,” he said.
“As a matter of priority and as a public servant in the legislative chambers, we do not work, so why don’t you just give us half salaries and then pay ASUU,” Ndume added.
