ASUU debunks govt’s claim of N50bn allowance payment, says no money received

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has responded to claims by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration that it has released N50 billion to settle protracted earned academic allowances owed to university lecturers.

ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with an online news daily stated that the union was not in receipt of any verifiable evidence of such payment and would not be persuaded by mere 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 refuted the narrative being pushed 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.”

This medium earlier reported that the government had disclosed the release of N50 billion to settle earned allowances of the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities

This was announced by the 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.