The National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, upheld the no work no pay policy by the Federal Government in the suit filed against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to the court, the no work no pay policy enforced by the Federal Government against members of ASUU who went on strike last year was legal.
In a judgement delivered by the President of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, the court held that it is within the right of the Federal Government to withhold salaries of workers who embark on industrial action.
The court however held that it is a violation of University Autonomy for the Federal Government to impose the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform on members of ASUU who reserve the right to determine how their salaries should be paid.
The Federal Government had dragged ASUU before the National Industrial Court over the demand of the Union for the payment of University salaries of University lecturers from February 14 to October 7, 2022, when the strike was called off.
It would be recalled that on February 14, 2022, ASUU embarked on strike action over issues revolving around revitalising public universities, and a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters.
After several meetings to resolve the strike ended inconclusively, the federal government proceeded to the national industrial court to challenge the action.
The Industrial Court, in a ruling delivered on September 21, 2022, granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit.
However, ASUU directed its members to continue with the strike despite the court’s ruling, a move Chris Ngige, former minister of labour, described as “unwarranted lawlessness”.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the court, ASUU approached the court of appeal seeking leave to challenge the lower court’s decision.
The court of appeal subsequently asked the parties to explore the option of an out-of-court settlement.
On October 14, last year, the strike was called off and the Varsity lecturers returned to the classroom despite unresolved issues.
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