ABUJA – The Federal Government has directed Vice-chancellors to strictly implement the ‘No work, No-pay’ policy on striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Lecturers, who are members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), are, however, exempted from the order for not joining the strike.
The striking ASUU members began a 14-day warning strike yesterday in spite of the government’s appeal to them to have a rethink since it had agreed to most of their demands that are within the purview of the government.
Academic activities were grounded in many public universities monitored by our correspondents.
Some of these are: University of Lagos(UNILAG), University of Ibadan(UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University(NAU), University of Maiduguri, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE).
In some like the University of Benin (UNIBEN), the University of Jos(UNIJOS), and the Federal University Dutse, examinations were halted.
Alausa said in a letter to the vice-chancellors that the government was disappointed that the strike commenced ‘’despite repeated calls for the union(ASUU) to embrace constructive dialogue.’’
The letter reads in part: “The Federal Ministry of Education views with dissatisfaction the reports of the ongoing industrial action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) despite repeated calls for the union to embrace constructive dialogue as the most effective and sustainable path toward resolving all outstanding issues in the tertiary education sector.
“In line with extant provisions of the Labour Laws of the Federation, the Federal Government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘No-Work, No-Pay’ policy in respect of any employee who fails to discharge his or her official duties during the period of strike action.
“Accordingly, all vice-chancellors of federal universities are hereby directed to ensure strict application of this provision, which requires immediate actions as follows:
* Conduct a roll call and physical headcount of all academic staff in your institution;
*Submit a comprehensive report, clearly indicating staff who are present and performing their official duties, and those absent or participating in the strike; and Ensure that salary payment for the period of work stoppage is withheld from those who fail to perform their duties.
“For the avoidance of doubt, academic staff who are members of CONUA
and NAMDA, who are not participating in the strike action, are exempted from this directive and shall not be subjected to any form of salary withholding.
“The NUC will monitor compliance with this directive and submit a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days of receipt of this circular.’’
The minister enjoined the vice-chancellors to treat the ‘’matter with utmost urgency and a deep sense of responsibility in national interest.”
Alausa also said on a national television yesterday that the government had taken concrete steps to address all pending issues affecting the lecturers.
He said: “We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike, and we are pleading with them to go back to school. “We need to keep our children in school. If there is any group of people I have met with most since assuming office, it is ASUU.”
The minister dismissed allegations that the Federal Government had been slow or unwilling to act on the union’s demands, insisting that several commitments had already been fulfilled.
“The arrears of their earned academic allowance have been paid. The President swiftly approved 50 billion naira months ago. Those allowances have now been mainstreamed into their salaries, so there will never be arrears again,” the minister explained.
