The National Industrial Court in Abuja has upheld the ‘no work no pay’ rule by the Federal Government in the suit filed against the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
In a judgment delivered by the President of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, the court held that it was within the right of the Federal Government to withhold the salaries of workers who embark on industrial action.
It held that the ‘no work no pay’ rule enforced by the Federal Government against members of ASUU who went on strike last year was legal.
However, the court held that it was a violation of university autonomy for the Federal Government to impose the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform on members of ASUU who reserve the right to determine how their salaries should be paid.
The Federal Government had dragged ASUU before the NIC over the demand of the union for the payment of their salaries from February 14 to October 7, 2022, when the strike was called off.
ASUU had insisted on getting salaries for all the months they were on strike but the FG under the past Muhammadu Buhari-led administration refused and insisted on enforcing its “no work, no pay” policy against the lecturers.
Apple’s Bite reports that ASUU is a Nigerian union of university academic staff, founded in 1978.
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ASUU is an offshoot of the Nigerian Association of University Teachers (NAUT) which was established in 1965. At that time, NAUT consisted of only five universities in total including University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ife and University of Lagos.
Professor Victor Emmanuel Osodeke emerged as the body’s president on 30 May 2021.
After 234 days (33 weeks) of strike action by ASUU, the Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday, October 05, 2022 announced the formation of two new academic unions – the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).
ASUU eventually called off the 8-month strike on October 14, 2022.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
