By Adeleye Kunle
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State threatened yesterday to stop paying members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benue State University, BSU, branch if they continued their sympathy strike with the striking federal university lecturers.
Governor Ortom claimed that the sympathy strike had gone beyond the three-day limit and urged lecturers to return to the classroom for the sake of Benue children.
The Governor, speaking in Makurdi in response to calls from parents and students for the striking lecturers to call off the sympathy strike, stated that he had ensured the prompt payment of the striking lecturers’ salaries despite their action, lamenting that their action was already having an impact on the students and parents.
“I have been paying their salaries; I don’t know why the lecturers are extending their sympathy strike beyond the allowed days,” the Governor said. Even so, I continue to pay them. Normally, there should not have been a strike at Benue State University; at the very least, they should not have gone beyond the days allowed for sympathy strikes.
“Either they come back or I stop paying them and use the resources for something else.” I give over N600 million to BSU on a monthly basis, and they should appreciate what we do in that institution.
“I’ve been doing that on a monthly basis, so I’m appealing to them to return to the classroom.” I’ve been patient enough, and I’m giving them a month to reconsider. I also encourage stakeholders to communicate with them.”
When contacted, Dr. Tarnongu Kwaghfan, Chairman of the ASUU-BSU Chapter, stated that the state government had yet to pay their June salaries, adding, “We have our own local issues which we have raised, and the Governor is also aware of these our local issues.” So, even if he claims he does not owe salaries, June has not been paid.”
Remember that the ASUU-BSU joined the national body’s warning strike on February 14, 2022 on a sympathy basis, but did not call it off despite repeated requests from parents and students to do so.
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