Utibe Ekoson
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the deductions from the October salaries of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) In an open letter, ASUU’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the deductions amount to punishing the lecturers for exercising their right to strike.The body urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and the acting Accountant General, Sylva Oko-li-eaboh to reverse the deductions.SERAP also demanded that ASUU members get full salaries for the duration of their eight months industrial action.The organization said the deductions violate the right of members of ASUU to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families.SERAP said industrial actions are protected under the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party.The letter threatened to take appropriate legal actions to compel the federal government to comply with its requests in the interest of the public.
