Tension in UNIBEN over half salary payment to lecturers

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Tension is brewing at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) following the payment of half salary to academic staff for August, leaving some lecturers struggling to meet financial obligations ahead of the resumption of schools later this month.

While lecturers received only half of their monthly pay without some allowances, non-academic workers of the university were reportedly paid their August salaries in full.

Daily Sun gathered that the development caught members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIBEN branch, by surprise as there was no prior notice from the university management.

Lecturers servicing loans obtained from the university were said to be particularly affected, as deductions from the reduced salaries left some of them with little or virtually nothing to take home.

The timing has also heightened concerns among affected lecturers who are preparing for the resumption of their children and wards in schools later this month.

It was gathered that the university resorted to paying half of the lecturers’ August salaries from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) following the alleged failure of the Federal Government to release its subvention.

The development is also coming amid issues surrounding the implementation of the agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

Sources said that apart from five months’ arrears earlier released by the Federal Government as part of the implementation of the agreement, responsibility for some aspects of the deal had allegedly been shifted to universities without corresponding funding.

Reacting to the development, the UNIBEN branch of ASUU said its leadership had met with the university administration and received assurances that the outstanding payment would be made.

In an “important notice” to members, the union said: “The leadership of ASUU UNIBEN Branch has met with the University Administration over the payment of August salary, and we have been assured by University Administration that more alerts will come soon; that there should be no cause for alarm. We all should therefore remain calm.”

The notice was signed by the union’s Secretary, Dr. L.O. Aimiyekagbon.

UNIBEN ASUU Chairman, Dr Enaruna Edosa, confirmed that the half salary payment came as a surprise to lecturers.

He, however, disclosed that three days after the initial payment, the university management paid professorial allowances to eligible academic staff.

Edosa expressed confidence in assurances by the Vice Chancellor that the remaining half of the August salary would be paid.

“I believe the Vice Chancellor that the outstanding half salary will be paid,” he said.

The development has nevertheless raised concerns among lecturers over the sustainability of salary payments if the university is compelled to rely on internally generated funds to meet its wage obligations.