The Vice-Chancellors of striking universities are to apply the principle of “no-work-no-pay” in relation to the lecturers.
They are however, to pay the non-academic staff.
The Federal Government directive was contained in a memo issued by Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, to university vice-chancellors.
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had embarked on an indefinite strike on Nov. 4, to press home their demands for better funding of the universities, among other demands.
Recall also that several meetings have held between the government and the striking teachers to reach an agreement that will see the teachers returning to the classroom, without success.
The memo signed by NUC Director of Research, Information and Technology S.B Ramon-Yusuf, said: “In view of the current Industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the federal government has directed that there shall be no payment of any form of salaries and allowances to the staff on strike in federal and inter-varsity centers.
“Consequently, I am to direct Vice-Chancellors to apply the “No-work-no-pay” rule. However, Universities and inter-varsity centers are to pay salaries and allowances to Non-teaching staff.
“All Vice Chancellors and Directors of centers should note that the salaries to staff on strike from whatever source of funds shall be viewed as violation of extant rules and directive of the federal government of Nigeria.”
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Reacting to the memo, Chairman of University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Deji Omole, in a statement on Friday,called the federal government shameless for owing lecturers seven years of unpaid, earned academic allowances saying that despite the debt, the government still wants lecturers to continue to work while the presidency and the National Assembly ‘feed fat’ on the wealth of the nation.
According to him, it was sad that a government that lays claim to having integrity has shown it lacks integrity by failing to honour agreements reached with the union. He said the government has resulted to harassment and intimidation of ASUU members on a patriotic struggle to save public education in Nigeria.
He insisted though that the “no work, no pay” threat will not deter the lecturers as it would not be the first time.
Omole declared that the lecturers would “triumph any attempt to destroy the common patrimony.”
