A former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, has urged the Federal Government to sue the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for contempt over the union’s warning strike, which commenced on Monday.
Enang, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja. He argued that ASUU’s demand for unpaid salaries was in contravention of a court order obtained in 2023, which stated that the union was not entitled to salaries while on strike.
Enang said: “They are going on strike to compel the Federal Government to disobey court order. If you want to go on strike, you have to agree that under the existing law, you have to forfeit your salaries for the period.” He further compared the situation to practices in the United States and the United Kingdom, where unions have strike funds to support members during strikes, as they are not entitled to salaries from their employers during such periods.
Enang advised ASUU to call off the strike and resume work while continuing negotiations with the Federal Government, emphasizing the negative impact on students’ academic calendars. He also highlighted that all the issues raised by ASUU have been addressed by the Ministry of Education and the Federal Government, questioning the necessity of the strike and labeling it as contemptuous of the court order.
Citing relevant laws, Enang stated that the government’s “no work, no pay” policy aligns with domestic and international labor laws. He urged the Minister of Education to charge ASUU with contempt of court rather than instructing vice chancellors to withhold salaries.
Additionally, the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has refused to join the ASUU strike, reaffirming its independence and commitment to protecting the interests of medical lecturers. NAMDA, the trade union for medical lecturers in universities, tertiary health institutions, and research institutions, stated that it is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, including the training of postgraduate doctors and dentists across Nigeria.
The Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Rehoboth Cathedral, Ibadan, Victor Adelakun, has called for balanced and honest responses between the government and university lecturers to resolve the ongoing dispute. He emphasized the need for constructive dialogue to address the underlying issues and avoid further disruptions to the education sector.