BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has made good its threat to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy by directing vice chancellors of federal universities to immediately implement the policy on striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The directive was contained in a circular, dated Monday, October 13, and signed by Alausa, copies of which were sent to key government officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pro-Chancellors of federal universities, Director General of the Budget Office, Accountant General of the Federation and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In the circular, the minister expressed disappointment over ASUU’s insistence on going on strike, despite repeated appeals for dialogue, warning that government would no longer tolerate actions that breach existing labour laws.
According to the circular: “In line with the 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.”
The minister directed all vice chancellors to conduct immediate roll call and physical headcount of academic staff across their institutions and to submit detailed reports indicating those present and performing their duties and those absent due to the strike.
Alausa directed the stoppage of payment of salaries for any lecturer who fails to perform his or her official responsibilities during the strike period.
He, however, said members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), who are not part of the strike, should not be penalised.
The minister stressed that the ministry expects full compliance with the directive, just as he charged the NUC to monitor implementation and submit a consolidated compliance report to the ministry within seven days.
He stated: “Please treat this matter with utmost urgency and a deep sense of responsibility in national interest.”
Recall that ASUU, on Sunday, October 12, declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike from Monday, October 13, over unmet demands, including conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries and arrears, revitalisation funding for public universities, among others.
