ASUU Strike: Tinubu Issues Waiver, Directs Payment of 4 Months’ Delayed Lecturers’ Salaries

President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was previously imposed on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who were on strike for an extended period of eight months.

This significant development was announced in a statement titled, ‘President Tinubu approves partial waiver of the no work, no pay order on ASUU members; orders release of four months of withheld salary.’ The statement was issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, October 20, 2023.

The waiver, as detailed by Ngelale, will enable the ASUU members who were on strike to receive four months’ worth of withheld salaries out of the eight months that were affected during the extended industrial action.

Background:
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) initiated a strike action on February 14, 2022, as a means of pressing their demands with the federal government. Their demands encompassed various crucial issues, including funding for the revitalization of public universities, the payment of earned academic allowances, and the adoption of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the preferred payment system over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). In addition, ASUU called for the settlement of promotion arrears and a renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

At the onset of the strike, the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, took legal action by dragging ASUU to the National Industrial Court, seeking an injunction to restrain the striking lecturers from continuing with their industrial action. In May 2023, the National Industrial Court upheld the “No Work, No Pay” rule implemented by the Federal Government in response to the lawsuit filed against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Relief for ASUU:
In a turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has intervened by directing the granting of a waiver with a stipulation that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must establish a Document of Understanding (DoU). This DoU will signify that the exceptional presidential waiver granted to ASUU and all other Education Sector Unions will be the last of its kind.

This action, invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the challenges experienced during the implementation of critical economic reforms in the country. It also underscores his acknowledgment of the faithful adherence to the terms agreed upon during the productive deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The statement by Ngelale explains the President’s decision, stating, “Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.”

“President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.”

“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.”

This decision by President Tinubu represents a significant step towards resolving the impasse between ASUU and the government, addressing the financial concerns of the striking lecturers, and fostering a positive atmosphere for the education sector. It also highlights the importance of dialogue and compromise in labor relations and in finding solutions to critical issues in the education sector.