Strike Update: University Workers Dare Government To Implement ‘No Work, No Pay’ Rule

-Non-academic workers of Nigerian universities challenge Ngige to explain framework for allocating resources to public universities.

-They also described government’s plan to withhold payment from striking members as insensitive.

Government on war path with non academic workers in Universities.

Striking members of the non-academic staff of public universities in Nigeria, have vowed to resist any attempt by government to implement the ‘no work, no pay’ rule over the current strike by the workers.

Recall the minister of labour, Dr. Chris Ngige had threatened to unleash the no work, no pay rule on the striking members of NASU, SSANU and NAAT, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC).

The union’s position was made public by the spokesperson of SSANU, Abdussobur Salaam.

He once again called on the government to explain the methods and framework used in sharing the earned allowances recently released by the government.

“We no longer call it allocations because allocations follow guidelines. What we have seen is that this process did not follow guidelines and the templates were discarded. We wrote demanding explanations since 14th November and only went on strike on 1st December. Was that not enough time for government to respond? As far as we are concerned, government must hold itself liable for this strike,” he said.

“As chief conciliator, one would have expected him to invite us and listen to our grievances first, before making a position, that is if it is necessary for him to do so. To threaten us would imply that he assumed that we just love going on strike. Does he assume that we go on strike for the fun of it? If there is no reason, would we go on strike?

“The letter from Salaries and Wages was to be issued within four weeks. Till today, almost two thousand of our members from the university schools are still languishing and waiting for a letter that would reabsorb them and include their names in the university’s budget in line with the National Industrial Court judgement,” he said.

“Isn’t it a shame that a government that prides itself to be run under the rule of law can still be prevaricating after a judgement of court has been issued? We insist that those who seek to embarrass this government are from within.

“We have no less than two thousand of staff who have not been paid salaries since 2014 and yet, the minister can be pontificate about no work, no pay.”

He also dispelled rumours that the union leaders were instigating members against the government.

“As far back as two weeks ago, universities such as UI and Ife had reacted spontaneously to the allocations made in their respect. Our people are not fools or illiterates who cannot recognise injustices when meted out to them. As leaders, we tried to quell their angers but they turned against us,” he said.

“For us, until this matter is resolved, no work no pay notwithstanding, it is a case of no retreat no surrender! The government should not test our resolve because our members have been pushed to the wall.

“We have been deceived by government and have totally lost confidence in its ability to ensure peace in the university system. We stand by our position and will not back down, regardless of any proclamation of no work no pay”, he said.