August salaries paid in full to academic staff, says UNIBEN

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The management of the University of Benin has denied reports that it paid half salaries to academic staff for August, describing the report as false.

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Members of the Academic Staff Union of the University of Benin on Thursday called off the indefinite strike they embarked upon on September 9 over a dispute concerning payment.

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The decision to suspend the industrial action followed the university management’s promise to pay lecturers their Earned Academic Allowance component for June, July and August by September 18.

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However, in a statement on Friday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, said full salaries were paid in August, as in previous months, adding that the Federal Government issued a payment warrant that enabled the university to pay salaries to all categories of staff before the end of August.

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The statement read, “The Management of the University of Benin has again reiterated that the report of payment of half-salary to academic staff of the University is patently false.

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“The management emphasised that full salary was paid in August like all previous months; and that the federal government issued a payment warrant which enabled payment of salary to all categories of staff before the end of August.

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“Second, the federal government’s portion of allowances of academic staff, which was delayed by non-release of warrant was also fully paid in line with the payment warrant released by the government to all tertiary institutions across the country.

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“The singular University Governing Council portion of allowance due to certain categories of academic staff has also been paid after necessary verification of those entitled to be paid.”

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Setting the record straight, Ehanire stated that at a meeting between the management and the local branch of ASUU, the distinction between salaries and allowances payable to different categories of staff was affirmed, with the union leadership made to appreciate the tax implications of lumping the two different emoluments together.

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She said the union was also reminded of the potential jeopardy to be suffered by staff members through failure to understand the statutory distinction provided for in the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act.

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She added, “The university management believes that these clarifications should put to rest the avoidable controversies surrounding payment of emoluments, and assured all stakeholders that staff and students will continue to enjoy the prevailing peace and harmony in the University.

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“The management then restated the need for official clarification of concerns by all stakeholders, including the staff unions, in order to eschew needless industrial disputes on campus.”

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