* Okays partial release of withheld salaries to doctors, ASUU members
President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the “no work, no pay” order imposed on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
ASUU commenced an eight-month strike on February 14, 2022, and ended the industrial action on October 17, 2022. The then President Muhammadu Buhari had invoked the ‘no work, no pay’ to compel the university teachers to return to their classrooms. Since then, the lecturers have yet to be paid during the period of the strike.
However, respite came for the lecturers on Friday as presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said a partial waiver has been given over the order.
Ajuri said the waiver “will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union”.
He said Tinubu invoked the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, seeking to “mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
Tinubu approved 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 establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to ASUU and all other education sector unions.
Similarly, the president extended the same gesture to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The doctors had commenced a 17-day industrial action on July 26 after the Federal government failed to meet their demands.
Responding, the government instituted a ‘no work, no pay’ order on August 1 to compel the professionals to return to work.
After a series of consultations between NARD leadership and government representatives, the resident doctors called off their strike on August 12.
The presidential spokesman said the waiver will enable the doctors to receive their salaries, which were withheld during the strike period.
“Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023,” the statement read.
“After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.
“In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike.”