ASUU Sues FG Over ‘Discriminatory’ Payment of Salaries

Category: Nigeria News

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sued the Federal Government over “discriminatory, unfair and illegal treatment” of its members.

The suit was filed at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja by the union’s lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

On Tuesday, the NICN upheld the “no work, no pay” rule by the Federal Government in the suit filed against ASUU.

On February 14, 2022, the union embarked on a strike over issues surrounding the revitalization of public universities, and a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters. On October 14, 2022, the strike was called off, despite unresolved issues.

From February to October 2022, the Federal Government refused to pay the lecturers’ salaries owing to the implementation of the “no work, no pay” policy.

The union repeatedly disagreed with the move, citing that lecturers cannot be treated like casual workers.

In his ruling on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Benedict Kanyip, said it was within the rights of the Federal Government to withhold the salaries of workers who embark on strike.

The judge described the “no work, no pay” rule as legal.

In the new suit, ASUU said it was “discriminatory” for the Federal Government to pay salaries of members of the Medical and Dental Academics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University at Awka in Anambra State, who were on strike from February to October 2022.

The academic union added that the Federal Government also paid salaries to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) who were on strike from September to October 2021.

In its new suit, ASUU is seeking, among others: “A declaration by virtue of the provisions of section 42 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and articles 2 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratification and enforcement) act 2004 the decision of the defendants to pay the members of the Joint Health Service Union who were on strike from March to May 2018 while electing to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant who took part in an industrial action from February to October 2022 is discriminatory, selective and illegal.”