The president of the Academic Staff Union of University, Emmanuel Osodoke has stated that the union will soon go on strike if the federal government insists on its no-work no-pay policy that has made their eight month salaries during the industrial action withheld.
He said emphatically in an interview today that the union might go on strike if the federal government does not sheath its sword and pay the varsity lecturers their salaries.
It all started when the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) went on eight month strike to drive home their demands from the FG.
However, the FG through the Ministry of Labour and Employment under the leadership of Chris Ngige sued ASUU to the industrial court. The verdict of the industrial court compelled ASUU to resume academic activities. Nonetheless, the ASUU filed an appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal. The court of appeal gave the verdict that ASUU should resume academic activities on Campus before it could listen to their suits. Hence, the union of varsity lecturers resumed on October 14.
Osodeke told reporter today, “Yes, the matter still continues before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja. The court has not given a final judgement on it. Remember that we were not the ones who dragged the government to court. It was the government that took us to court. The order that the court gave was that we should go back to our duty posts while the matter is being heard.
“As law abiding people, we obeyed the order of the court. Unfortunately, the FG that initiated the matter did not wait for the final decision of the court before starting the ‘no work, no pay’ issue. Even to a layman, when the court said go back and maintain the status quo, did it say that the government should be the judge on the matter?” He said.
The ASUU President was satisfied with one day of protest observed in all public universities by each branch.
“We are going to hold our National Executive Council meeting to appraise the situation and look at reports from the branches. It was the NEC that mandated the branches to embark on the protests. Whatever is going to be the next line of action, we are going to decide at the NEC meeting, ” he stated.
