Following the suspension of a long strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continued the fight for what it described as the members rights. The union has pledged to continue on its endeavor until the federal government pays the withheld eight months salaries of its members during the period of the recently suspended strike in full. Seeing to this, the union is considering taking legal action against the federal government in order to compel it to pay out the withheld salaries.
Meanwhile, ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodoke has expressed skepticism about taking legal action over what he termed slow dispensation of justice in Nigeria. He claims that in Nigeria, going to court is time wasting. The union would continue to explore other means of compelling the government to pay the outstanding salaries in question not acknowledging the time frame it will take. Conversely, the general public, especially the students that were greatly affected by the just suspended strike action, awaits with bated breath on what the measure will ASSU take next.
Legal action against the Federal Government can not be voided.
The Federal Government had invoked a no-work-no-pay policy, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige as such the union members were not paid for the timeframe of eight months spent during the strike. It further became clear to the union that the government was not even considering paying the outstanding arrears salary when the government counted the number of days the lecturers worked in October and decided to pay them on “pro-rata basis”.
However, some members of the union have shown concern over the non-work-no-pay policy arguing that taking legal action against the Federal Government can not be voided if the current option being adopted fails to yield positive fruits. Likewise, Dr. Salahu Lawal, zonal coordinator of ASUU, Abuja, persist that the government must pay the withheld salaries, saying the argument that lecturers would not be paid for work not done should be nullified. Dr Lawal lamented that the withheld salaries had adversely affected ASUU members. He averted that lecturers could not teach on an empty stomach and give their best.
Government plans intervention for partial payment.
Dr. Lawal explains that the union is still dialoguing with the federal government to showcase the reason why the union must be paid the withheld salaries. In his words, he said it should be notable that “there is no break in academic”. While all left work and tasks have to be completed, the government also have to pay the lecturers, he added. He went on to say that the union is currently open to discussion which is why it seeks actual understanding with government officials on the reason why the withheld salary must be paid.
The union is awaiting the outcome of the already adopted measures on whether it will yield the desired outcome. Dr. Lawal claims that some righteous Nigerians have been relating positively with the government while some are being dubious on the issue at hand. While it is not obligated for government to pay salaries to lecturers for the time spent on strike is premised on the law, nevertheless, interventions have been made to explore the possibility of partial payments to the lecturers.
Current administration tends to resolve all outstanding issues.
Among the intervention is the 2023 Appropriations Bill, which encompasses the sum of one hundred and seventy billion naira to provide a level of increment in the welfare package of university lecturers and an additional three hundred billion naira in revitalization funds to improve the infrastructure and operations of federal universities. This is done as prudent by the Buhari led-administration to resolve all outstanding issues with the union in order foster stand and quality educational session in the country.
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ASUU is considering legal action against FG – The union persist that the government must pay the withheld 8 months salaries. – Express your point of view.
We have very insensitivity government who careless about education in Nigeria . There is every possibility that ASUU might resumes their industrial action.
In all these squabbles I pity the students bearing the brunt,imagine what will happen again with this 8months salary debacle they are fighting for,they should both reach compromise.
Legal action is better than the threat of strike by ASUU. With that students will not bear the brunt of the failed government. The government and ASUU can go to court to settle their disputes.
If federal government is sincere enough and take education system serious,they will do the right thing by paying the outstanding balance of the arrears of the university lecturers.If the money is not pay,it will affect the education system in a bad way.
The union is waiting to see how the already-adopted measures turn out in terms of whether they will produce the desired results. According to Dr. Lawal, while some virtuous Nigerians have excellent relationships with the government, others are skeptical about the current situation.
In response to what he referred to as the “slow dispensation of justice in Nigeria,” the head of ASUU has expressed reservations about taking legal action.
In light of this fact, the union is contemplating initiating legal action against the federal government in order to compel it to pay out the payments that have been withheld.
The union is going to keep looking into various options in the hopes of convincing the government to pay the outstanding salary in issue, but they are not going to acknowledge the amount of time that this process will take.
Once the government calculated how many days the lecturers had worked in October and chose to pay them, it became abundantly evident to the union that the government had no intention of paying the due arrears salary.
On the other hand, the general public, and especially the students who were significantly impacted by the strike action that was recently postponed, are waiting with bated breath to find out what the next step will be that ASUU will do.
ASUU is considering legal action against FG. This issue of ASUU should be solve for one’s, instead of going back to this same problem of asuu. Government is not taking our education serious. It be a shame thing if university go on strike again
The union is currently amenable to dialogue, which is why it is trying to gain a real understanding with government authorities as to why the withheld income must be reimbursed.
Though the government is not legally required to pay professors’ salaries during their strike, efforts have been made to investigate the possibility of making at least some of them whole.
I feel bad for the students who are getting the short end of all these fights; just think of what will happen if they don’t settle their dispute over the 8-month salary.
Legal action is good to fight government not to be using strike that will be affecting the student and delay time of the student, with this legal action both parties can solve their dispute without affecting anyone
From the recurring actions of the federal government it is obvious that they are insensitivity to the plight of the lecturers and the challenges confronting educational system in Nigeria. There is every possibility of looming strike.
Think of what will occur if they don’t resolve their disagreement over the 8-month wage; I feel horrible for the students who are receiving the short end of all these battles.
Using strike that would be affect students and delay time of the students, with this legal action both parties can solve their dispute without affecting anyone
If they can’t resolve their disagreement about the 8-month compensation, I fear for the kids who are getting the short end of the stick in all of this drama.
ASUU strikes are worse than legal action. That will shield students from the dysfunctional government. ASUU and the government can litigate.
The union is currently willing to talk, which is why it is trying to find out from government officials why the income that was taken away should be given back.