ASUU strike: Ortom threatens to stop paying BSU lecturers salaries

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has threatened to stop the salaries of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benue State University, BSU, branch should they continue the ongoing sympathy industrial action with the striking federal university lecturers.

Governor Ortom contended that the sympathy strike had gone beyond the allowed three days and urged the lecturers to return to the classroom in the interest of Benue children.

The Governor who spoke in Makurdi while reacting to appeals by parents and students on the striking lecturers to call off the sympathy strike, noted that he had ensured the prompt payment of the salaries of the striking lecturers despite their action lamenting that their action was already taking its toll on the students and parents.

The Governor said: “I have been paying their salaries; I don’t know why the lecturers are extending their sympathy strike beyond the allowed days. Even at that I am still paying them. Ordinarily there should not be any strike at the Benue State University at least they wouldn’t have gone beyond the days allowed for sympathy strike.

“So it is either they come back or I will stop paying them and I will use the resources for something else. What I give to BSU monthly is over N600million and they should appreciate what we are doing in that institution.

“I have been doing that monthly, so I am appealing to them to return back to classroom. I have been patient enough and I am allowing them one month do a rethink. I also urge stakeholders to talk to them.”