A senator representing Borno south Ali Ndume has called on the Federal Government to slash the salaries of the National Assembly members by half in order to augment the salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, so as to meet their pressing demands.
The Borno senator made this known in Borno Maiduguri’s capital while speaking on the half payment received by members of ASUU.
He urged the federal government to form a high-powered standing committee of respected educationists and patriotic Nigerians to meet with the leadership of ASUU to address the issues.
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.”
According to Ndume, civil servants who worked from home during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic were paid their full monthly salaries and allowances.
He said, “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.”
Ndume added, “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.”
