The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has denied reports that academic staff received half salaries for August, describing the claim as false.
The clarification followed the suspension of an indefinite strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIBEN branch, over concerns surrounding the payment of salaries and allowances.
The lecturers began the industrial action on September 9 but suspended it on Thursday after the university management promised to pay the Earned Academic Allowance component for June, July and August by September 18.
However, in a statement issued on Friday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, said all categories of staff received their full salaries for August.
Ehanire explained that the Federal Government had issued a payment warrant which enabled the university to pay the August salaries before the end of the month.
She said, “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.
“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.”
According to her, the Federal Government’s portion of allowances for academic staff, which had been delayed due to the non-release of the relevant warrant, was also fully paid following the release of the payment warrant to tertiary institutions across the country.
She added that the portion of allowances payable by the University Governing Council to certain categories of academic staff had also been paid after the necessary verification of eligible staff.
Ehanire said the distinction between salaries and allowances was clarified during a meeting between the university management and the local ASUU leadership.
She explained that the union was also informed about the tax implications of combining salaries and allowances, as well as the statutory distinctions under the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act.
The university management said the clarification was intended to end controversies surrounding the payment of staff emoluments and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and harmony among staff and students.
It also urged all stakeholders, including staff unions, to seek official clarification on payment-related concerns in order to prevent avoidable industrial disputes on campus.
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