The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities,
Ebonyi State University Chapter, Comrade Ikechuku Igwenyi, has said with
Wednesday’s court judgement ordering Nigeria’s universities lecturers to return
to the classroom, the Federal Government has declared ‘war’ against members of
the union.
This was as he pointed out that, the, “No work, no pay”
policy of the government shows the authorities lack an understanding of the
nature of the contract between the lecturers and their employers.
He stated this while reacting to Wednesday’s Federal
Government-ASUU court judgement, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on
Thursday.
He said, “When a matter leaves the round and peaceful
negotiation table to the Court, it becomes difficult to predict the possible
end of the imbroglio. It has therefore become obvious that the Federal
Government of Nigeria has clearly declared war against academic staff in
Nigerian Federal Universities using the weapons of forced labour, hunger and
starvation through non-payment of outstanding 7 months’ salaries.
“The “No work, No pay” policy of Federal Government implies
government illiteracy on University Administration or FGN does not take into
cognizance, the peculiar nature of the contract between University lecturers
and their employers. It is therefore embarrassing that rather than confront the
main issues with the urgency they demand, the Federal Government has been
introducing obnoxious diversionary and distractive policies to divert the focus
of ASUU from objective positions of the union to frivolities.
“The introduction of IPPIS and imposing the fraudulent
payment platform on universities workers without integrity testing by NITDA and
the current no work, no pay policy are clear indications of unwillingness to
implement the agreements FGN willingly signed in 1981, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2004,
2007 and 2009 and the several Memoranda of Understanding of 2013 and 2017 with
the Memoranda of Action of 2019 and 2020. There were also two concluded reports
that were submitted by Federal Government’s inaugurated Renegotiation Committee
led by Prof. Muzali Jubril in 2021 and Emeritus Prof. Nimi Dimkpa Briggs without
any consideration.
“It is therefore not
surprising that while the Government inaugurated committee had submitted their
report to their principal and waiting for the outcome and approval of a job
well done, the Federal Minister of Education came up with a “take it or leave
it” salary award that is not in tandem with collective bargaining principles,
which also negates the FGN/ASUU Agreement of 1981. Recall that the same
government had set up a 14-man committee to review the Prof Nimi Briggs
Committee report and while the committee is still at work, the Federal Minister
of Labour and Productivity took the matter to the National Industrial Court of
Nigeria, because he informed that it was not the Federal Government that took
ASUU to Court.”
He added, “Today, the NIC has ordered ASUU to call off the
ongoing strike and return to the classroom with empty stomachs and unpaid bills
pending the determination of the suit filed against the union by the Federal
Government. Meanwhile, it has become difficult to hold government responsible
and true to their word because NASU and SSANU were promised to be paid their
salary when they resume work and it has been over a month without any light of
hope or fidelity. Going to Court has implications in further delaying the
negotiation process and will definitely postpone the day of joy for Nigerian
university workers, students and parents.
“It is on this note that members are encouraged to be strong
and courageous because this is a legacy struggle. Our Comrade President has
urged members of the academic union to remain resolute and strong because a
people united cannot be defeated. As we have received the judgement, members
are therefore enjoined to remain firm with our faith unshakable and have a
profound trust in the never-failing principles of the union and the destiny of
our children, institution and country rather than live under subjection and
disregarding sacred principles.
“National Industrial Court judgement is not a cul-de-sac or
end of the road. There are other levels of appeal and stay of execution orders.
It is imperative now to ask Federal Government of Nigeria whose interest they
are working hard to protect because the genuine Nigeria students they claim
they are fighting for have been protesting and recently called the National
Industrial Court judgement ‘a black market judgement’.
“Members are hereby admonished not to lose faith because the
Almighty God is on His Throne and it is not over until it is over.
“Our team of lawyers will advise properly on the next level
but in the meantime, members are encouraged to be steadfast for the struggle is
closer to the end than from the beginning.”
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