Members of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, as well as their counterparts at polytechnics and colleges of education, are among the benefactors.

Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, revealed this on Tuesday while answering questions from laborur journalists in Abuja on the ongoing ASUU strike.

The union had gone on strike over the federal government’s failure to follow several agreements. The union leadership had stated that the strike would not be called off until its demands were satisfied.

But Ngige said the universities would get N23.5bn, polytechnics N6bn and the Colleges of Education N4bn, totalling about N34bn.

Regarding the ASUU strike, the minister said the committees set up during the last tripartite plus meeting of the government and university-based unions were given a fortnight to turn in their reports which they were still working on.

He added that the reports of the committees were being expected this weekend.

He said, “Those committees are working. The one on National Information Technology Development Agency is testing the three platforms-the government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, the University Transparency Accountability Solution of ASUU and the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System of the non-teaching staff.

“They started the testing last Thursday. The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission has issued their amendment circulars. The unions also have copies to take care of responsibility and hazard allowances wherever it has not been properly captured.”

As the government strengthens efforts to simplify salaries through the NSIWC, Ngige stated that salary modifications may be made.

He urged ASUU and other unions to call off their strike so that academic activity at public colleges throughout the country may resume.