David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has revealed that the union pays some of its members who are unjustly victimised by the government monthly salaries to augment their living.
Ogunyemi, who was delivering a public lecture titled ‘ASUU Ideology, Principles and Struggles’ at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, was reacting to questions from members of the union who were curious over what the leadership does with monies remitted from state chapters.
He said: “There is no NEC meeting we don’t address welfare issues. We’ve had cases of health challenges where the national body supported individual members with as much as N5 million.
“There was a case of a lady who suffered from an acid attack and was treated for over two years abroad.
“We have no fewer than 200 of our members unjustly sacked who we are paying N80,000 monthly as a way of assistance.
“These are all on record. The boundaries of our welfare package is so flexible. The principle is – you never know whose turn is next, injury to one, injury to all.”
The president cautioned members to desist from taking up multiple teaching jobs in other universities as a way of augmenting their salaries as doing so would only increase their health challenges as well as reduce their life span.
“We’ve some of our colleagues who will boastfully tell you they teach in three universities and some almost work themselves to their graves,” he said.
The ASUU boss assured his colleagues that their welfare would remain topmost priority to the leadership of the union.
The function was put together by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Chapter of ASUU, for the foundation laying ceremony of its secretariat.
Chairman of ASUU in the university, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, told members of the union that the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, has been working harmoniously with the union.
