FG stops salaries of striking varsity lecturers

The Federal Government has directed vice chancellors of striking public varsities and inter-varsity centres to enforce no-work-no-pay rule on striking lecturers.

This directive was communicated to universities in a memo sent by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to university vice chancellors.

The memo, which was signed by Director, Research, Information and Technology, Dr S.B Ramon-Yusuf, stated that payment of salaries from any other sources would be viewed as violation of extant rules and government directive.

“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 centres. Consequently, I am to direct vice chancellors to apply the “No-work-no-pay” rule.

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“However, universities and inter-varsity centres are to pay salaries and allowances to Non-teaching staff.

All vice chancellors and directors of centres 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”

Reacting to the memo, Chairman, University of Ibadan  Chapter of ASUU, Dr Deji Omole, described the Federal Government as shameless for owing lecturers seven years of unpaid earned academic allowances and still wanted them to continue to work for free while the presidency and the National Assembly feed fat on the wealth of the nation.

He said it was sad that a government that prides itself as having integrity had shamefully shown that it lacked integrity by failing to honour agreements reached with the union but resulted to harassment and intimidation of ASUU members on a patriotic struggle to save public education in Nigeria.