Varsity lecturers give government 15-day ultimatum to release unpaid salaries, arrears

The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has given the government a 15-day ultimatum starting January 1, 2025 to pay December salaries and all arrears from September.

This demand follows repeated government promises, including a directive from the Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala to implement salary increments as per the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

According to UASU Organising Secretary Onesmus Maluki, the government consented to a salary increase for lecturers, which would be retroactive from October.

In a gesture perceived as goodwill, the government, through PS Inyangala, sent out a circular instructing universities to implement the pay rise for their academic staff.

Despite the circular from the PS, universities did not disburse the new salaries as expected.

Maluki stated that both the government and the universities failed to fulfil their agreement regarding the December salaries.

"We agreed that the new salaries for university lecturers would be implemented in December and that we would also receive arrears for October and November," he said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

"We saw a circular from the PS directing the universities to prepare to pay the new salaries in December. But again, we went for Christmas without the new salary as was expected."

Strike threat

If payments are not made, UASU threatens to strike again on January 15.

The implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, signed in 2021, has faced numerous challenges, leading to frequent protests and strikes.

In 2024, two significant strikes demanded salary increments. Despite a signed agreement after the September strike, no increments were paid by the end of the month. The government failed to honour the return-to-work formula, prompting another strike in November.

Lecturers were dismayed to receive their December salaries without any increments despite the clear directive from Inyangala in November. University officials claimed they had not received funds from the government to make the payments.

Consequently, UASU now threatens to halt lectures and return to the streets in protest if the demands are not met.

"They have refused to keep their word twice, and this time we will not go back if we begin again until we are paid everything," said Maluki.

The union is demanding the resignation of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, accusing him of failing to ensure the implementation of the agreement.

"How can you come and promise donors that we are going to pay you, then you go back to your office and you continue business as usual?" Maluki asked.