The Academic Staff Union of Universities has urged the Federal Government to release the salaries of lecturers withheld for embarking on a strike in 2022.

The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, told our correspondent that the union expected the government to pay the withheld salaries but that there was no engagement yet on the issue.

His reaction followed news of the approval of a percentage increment in salaries of workers in federal government-owned tertiary institutions.

In 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government withheld salaries of ASUU members following the period the workers embarked on strike.

Recently, a splinter faction of ASUU, the Congress of University Academics led by its National President, Niyi Sunmonu visited the Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, over the withheld salaries of lecturers.

Though the minister did not make any promise, he noted that the government would look into the matter.

Speaking with press on Saturday, the ASUU President said “No engagement between us and the Federal Government so far on the issue of the withheld salaries. We have not met with them, they have not met with us at all.”