FGN sets up committee to review “no work, no pay” decision on lecturers
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has set up a 14-man tactical committee to review its ‘no work, no pay’ decision against striking members of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU).
This followed a meeting by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu; with Pro-Chancellors, Chairmen of Councils as well as Vice Chancellors of universities.
The meeting held behind closed doors was part of efforts to resolve the seven-month industrial action by lecturers of public universities.
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The Director Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, disclosed this to journalists after the meeting which lasted for over two hours.
He said the committee is to also look into issues of increase in the salaries of the university lecturers and come up with workable solutions.
The spokesman for the ministry did not give a specific timeline for the 14-man committee. He, however, said the committee is expected to come up with its findings in no distant time.
He said the committee’s report will be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for action.
Asked if this committee’s work has jettisoned the recommendations of the Professor Nimi Briggs-led committee earlier set up by the federal government, he simply said no.
Earlier in the meeting, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, described the indefinite strike by ASUU as anguish and internal turmoil to him.
In his remarks, he said the major reason why the government and ASUU, as well as other unions, could not reach an amicable agreement was the issue of the law on “no work, no pay”.
The minister, who said the government made it clear that it would not break the law, lamented that despite all efforts to get the university lecturers to call off the strike, the union refused to renege on its position and went on to declare an indefinite strike action in August.
He stated that the decision by the ASUU leadership that the union would no longer negotiate with the government, as reported, must be resisted.
According to Adamu, the government and ASUU have no option but to continue to talk until universities reopen their doors to Nigerian students whom he said were principal victims of the prolonged industrial action.
Stakeholders present at the meeting include the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede; Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed; Emeritus Professors Peter Okebukola and Nimi Briggs, among others.
