Federal Government has indicated that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may also lose their eight months' worth of pension benefits for the time the strike lasted, suggesting that the controversy plaguing Nigeria's university system is likely far from over.
Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment, made this statement in Abuja following a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa.
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The "no work, no pay" policy put in place while the ASUU strike was in progress, according to Ngige, triggered the fate that might have befallen them.
Remember that the apex university union ended its eight-month strike but did not receive its full month's salary as a result, leading to a show of dominance between ASUU and the Federal Government.
Ngige bemoaned the situation, saying that in contrast to the private sector, which was generally quiet throughout the year, the government had to deal with labor disputes from various unions in the public sector. The minister of labor also suggested that the government was hindered by funding issues, but he added that initiatives are being taken to support the salaries of those employed in the academic sector.
Whether a worker should be paid while on strike would be a violation of Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, which states that going on strike has the following repercussions, the minister said. As a result, ASUU has stopped commenting on their salary.
First off, you won't get paid or compensated for choosing not to work to help your employer keep the business or industry afloat. You shouldn't be given that cash or that payment as compensation. In Section 43 (1), it is mentioned. A second provision of Section 43 states that the time spent on strike will not be included in your calculation of your service-related pensionable period. Government hasn't intervened in that aspect, but the strike set off the no-work, no-pay clause. So, we are requesting that the court look into it. The judiciary and the Executive, or us, have no control over the situation. In court, ASUU has also argued its case, telling the judge that although they went on strike, they did so for a good reason. Therefore, it is now up to the court to review it. ".
Ngige explained his purpose for visiting the presidential villa: to inform the President about the labor market for 2022.
The Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) strike in February was followed by pressure from other unions, including the Medical Doctors Association and the youth wing of the National Association of Resident Doctors. Other sister unions in the university system and even employees of research institutes joined the strike.
Inflation's effects on the economy and the cost of living for those who must work in the public sector made JOHESU's demand for a pay raise understandable.
"In the private sector, employers have probably managed their affairs better because they have more control over their finances and management because they could easily conduct collective bargaining with their employees. Everything is calm, including the banking industry, the food and beverage industry, finance, and insurance. Because of the government's finances, we didn't have the desired calmness on their side, Ngige told State House reporters.