No salary for striking ASUU lecturers – FG

The Federal Government has directed the vice chancellors of
public universities and inter-varsity centres to enforce
no-work-no-pay rule on the lecturers who are on strike.

The directive was communicated to universities in a memo by the
National Universities Commission to univercities’ VCs.

The memo, which was signed by the Director, Research,
Information and Technology, Dr S. B Ramon-Yusuf, stated that
payment of salaries from any other sources would be viewed as
violation of extant rules and government’s directive.

It partly read, “In view of the current Industrial action by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Federal Government has
directed that there shall be no payment of any form of salaries and
allowances to the staff on strike in federal and inter-varsity
centers.

“Consequently, I am to direct vice-chancellors to apply the
“No-work-no-pay” rule. However, universities and inter-varsity
centers are to pay salaries and allowances to non-teaching staff.
All Vice-Chancellors and Directors of Centers should note that the
salaries to staff on strike from whatever source of funds shall be
viewed as violation of extant rules and directive of the Federal
Government of Nigeria.”

Reacting to the memo, Chairman of the University of Ibadan
chapter of ASUU, Dr. Deji Omole, said it was shameful for the
Federal Government to owe lecturers seven years of unpaid salaries
and allowances and still want them to continue to work while the
Presidency and the National Assembly members feed fat on the wealth
of the nation.

He said a government that prides itself as having integrity
should honour agreements reached with the union instead of
resulting to harassment and intimidation of union members on a
patriotic struggle to save public education in the country.

Omole noted that the directive would fuel the struggle, adding
that the union members had resolved to get proper education for the
children of average Nigerians.

He said military government tried unsuccessfully to intimidate
the collective will of Nigerian masses, adding that members of the
union had resolved to fight for the future of the country.

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