By Anwar Usman
The Federal Government on Sunday night threatened to implement the no-work-no-pay policy on the Academic Staff Union of Universities due to its failure to comply ongoing negotiations.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education Folasade Boriowo, says the ministry accused ASUU of not being cooperative despite efforts by the government to avert the strike that was declared by the union.
“The Ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritise the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.
They, however, emphasised that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.
While the government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.
The statement also reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.
The statement further revealed that, “Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.”
On Sunday, the university lecturers declared a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike starting from Monday, October 13.
ASUU is currently demanding the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement including the release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities, and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
Others factors include the payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues)