Punch
Lecturers in different parts of the country on Tuesday protested against the no-work no-pay policy imposed on them by the Federal Government following the eight-month strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
They said the actions of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, towards the union would destroy public universities in Nigeria.
Members of ASUU, University of Lagos chapter, held a rally from the Julius Berger Auditorium of the university premises, to the school main gate, to protest against the half salaries they received in October.
The aggrieved lecturers held a big banner and placards with inscriptions that included, ‘Ngige be mindful of history, ASUU will outlive you’, ‘Teachers teach the nation but Ngige cheats the teachers’, ‘No work no pay and prorated salaries are punitive measures against renegotiated agreement,’ among others.
Speaking after the rally, titled, ‘The casualisation of intellectualism in Nigeria’, the branch Chairman, Dr Dele Ashiru, said Ngige instigated the government against ASUU.
He said, ‘‘Ngige is the agent provocateur; he is the one instigating the government against ASUU. He has inexplicable hatred against our union and that is the reason he turned our struggle to a personal fight.
“It was Ngige who poisoned FEC against our union. Ngige started the campaign of no-work no-pay against our union. Ngige dragged ASUU before the court; Ngige wrote Ministry of Finance to stop our salary and made it prorated. He registered two stinker unions to weaken our union which was against the Trade Union Act. Ngige also wanted our union proscribed by suggesting that we have not been submitting our account. Ngige is out there to destroy public universities.’’
While speaking on the half-pay, he added that the action of the government was contrary to all labour laws and best practices all over the world, adding that the government prorated ASUU salaries so as to pitch the union against its students and Nigerians.
Also addressing the members, the Chairman, ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, appealed to the government to restore normalcy to the education sector by implementing the demands of the union.
He described the government’s action towards the academic members as repressive, saying it was capable of causing more danger for the university communities and the students.
The National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign, Hassan Soweto, alleged that the government was creating potholes for the incoming administration by failing to amend ways with the union.
At the University of Jos, the lecturers also carried placards with different inscriptions.
The Chairman, ASUU, University of Jos branch, Prof. Lazarus Maigoro, who led the protest, told journalists that the group would not relent until the Federal Government paid the withheld salaries.
“We condemn the mischievous IPPIS platform as a means of amputating our hard-earned wages as well as a tool for criminal diversion of part of our salaries to private pockets using unverified deductions.
“Our branch in University of Jos calls on the Nigerian public to impress upon the government the need to adhere and honour agreements it freely and willingly entered with our union, including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the ASUU -FG 2022 agreement chaired by Prof. Mimi Briggs,” he added.
