‘ No work, no pay policy’ breaches int’l labour laws, ASUU warns govt
FG pays lecturers four months withheld salaries
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) has demanded the full payment of all entitlements of its members, while reminding the Federal Government that its ‘ no work, no pay’ policy remains a breach of the international labour laws. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of ASUU Calabar’s zonal press briefing, held, yesterday, in Calabar.
According to the zonal chairperson, Happiness Uduk, the continuous withholding of lecturers’ salaries by the government after reaching all known agreements is now unbecoming of any democratic government.
She said that ASUU expects nothing less from the government, insisting that the total payment of the withheld salaries should be paid en bloc.
The communiqué said: “ASUU calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay, without further delay, its members their withheld salaries in federal and state universities for participating in the 2022 strike. “ASUU, as a union under the conditions of ILO, like any other union, can use strike as a veritable tool to get its demands. Denying its members their salaries for the period of the strike, and for work that has now been completed is against labour best practices.
“The government’s leaning on the obnoxious ‘ no work, no pay policy’ is a breach of
Hlabour laws. This is to further heighten the already tense work environment.”
Meanwhile, ASUU has accused the Federal Government of perpetually reneging on virtually all the agreements entered into with the body, describing it as detrimental to the educational development of the country. OWEVER, the Federal Government has commenced the payment of withheld salaries of ASUU lecturers .
The Director of Press in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation ( OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, confirmed the development to newsmen yesterday.
Mokwa said the Federal Government released twomonth salary arrears to the affected lecturers at the weekend, while another tranche of two- month salary will be released later.
The director of press disclosed that the Federal Government has resolved to offset the eight- month salary arrears of University lecturers who embarked on an eight- month strike during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The OAGF spokesman did not say when the remaining four months will be paid, but assured that the Federal Government will pay the lecturers.