The Speaker of the House of Representatives has denied committing himself to offsetting the owed salaries of public university lecturers.
The denial is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, Benjamin Kalu.
The denial followed reports that the president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke claimed that Hon. Gbajabiamila failed to deliver on a written commitment that the government would offset the lecturers’ salary arrears immediately after they call off their strike.
According to Kalu, the Speaker never made such a commitment.
He, however, said the House has resolved to improve the welfare package of university lecturers and provide more money for the universities revitalization fund.
The commitments are reflected in the 2023 Appropriation Bill, he added.
They include N170 billion to raise the welfare package of university lecturers and an additional N300 billion revitalization fund.
