The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the Federal Government’s implementation of a ‘No work, No Pay’ policy over the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
ASUU had on Sunday declared a two-week warning strike starting from October 13.
The lecturers have been at loggerheads with the government over the work conditions of lecturers, the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, and sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities.
In a statement, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said that the ASUU warning strike is a ‘direct consequence’ of the government’s refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements.
He said the government’s continued refusal to implement agreements voluntarily reached with lecturers and workers was undermining public tertiary institutions.
“Rather than engaging in good faith to resolve the crisis, the government has resorted to the unproductive threat of ‘No Work, No Pay’. This misrepresents the situation. The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars,” he said.
“In light of this, the Nigeria Labour Congress hereby declares its full solidarity with ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector.”