You cannot implement ‘no work, no pay’ on striking lecturers — ASUP tells FG
Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has accused the federal government of being insensitive to the plight of the union, stressing that government cannot implement ‘no work, no pay’ policy on the striking lecturers since they fulfilled all the requirements for the strike.
National President of the union, Anderson Ezeibe disclosed this in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwanna, Afikpo, Ebonyi state while briefing journalists after the congress of the union in the polytechnic.
Ezeibe urged federal government that it provided incentives for the ongoing strike of the union.
ASUP has been on strike for two months now and has vowed that it will continue the industrial action until its demands are met by the federal government.
The federal government has released N15billion for the sector but the union argued that it was not for the welfare of its members.
It said the N15bn released by the federal government was only for revitalization of infrastructure in the sector.
Ezeibe was quoted saying, “Calling off of our strike is in the hands of federal government. The issues in contention are very clear and the union is still on strike as at today. The congress today was only meant to educate our members, update them, let them get to know where we are on each of the items of the strike.
“The congress does not have the powers to review or suspend the strike, it is the responsibility of the National Executive council of the union. For now, the strike is in full force and you call see that the strike is being observed in totality.
“The issue of ‘no work, no pay’ is very contentious. It is very contentious because if the union has met the legal requirement before embarking on a strike, then the government cannot be on a strong legal footing to implement ‘no work, no pay.’
“If we have given all the notices required of us from the Trade Union Act, given the government every ample opportunity to resolve the issues with our union, then the government cannot be standing on both legal and moral ground to start talking about ‘no work, no pay.’
“The government in itself provided the incentive for the strike, they provided the incentive for the strike because they have neglected the sector, because they refused to respond to series of letters, complaints written to them by the union spanning over one year.
“The notice for this strike was issued in March last year. And so, if the government could not respond to these issues within one year, then you would agree with me that the government has provided incentive for the strike.
“The offer of N15billion by the federal government is not to the union, the money will not be given to the union. It is for the revitalization of infrastructure in the sector. So, it is not money made available to the union, it is not money for the members of the union. We need to make this clarification very clearly. Yes, that offer has been made but it is for four years old. Like I pointed out, our people have not seen this money and there is no evidence to show that this money has been released but it is in an advanced stage of its released. So, that is why the strike is still on.”
