Nigerian students across the country have received a fresh wave of disappointment from their lecturers, as the Federal Government (FG) bluntly refused to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) their full salaries.
Why is FG holding lecturers’ salaries?
Even though the government may be making a diss move towards ASUU, their actions are legally right.
According to the Trade Act Union, Vol.15 CAP T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, federal workers that go on industrial action (or strike) do not deserve to be paid for the months they were away from work.
While the Federal Government may claim that its decision in paying the workers half of their salaries is legally right, it totally defeats the purpose of ASUU striking for eight months, which was to collect their wages in full.
How’s ASUU taking this?
After ASUU lecturers checked their phones and saw that their ‘credit alerts’ weren’t complete, they decided not to relent, as they began a new wave of protests.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the ASUU kicked off with a peaceful protest on November 15, urging the government and stakeholders to reverse the payments before another crisis erupts in the nation’s universities.
The Bayero University in Kano, while not protesting, has decided to postpone exams
But since Ngige is not willing to hear word, we may have to brace ourselves for another nationwide strike from ASUU.
How are students taking the news?
The reactions from Nigerian students across social media have gathered some mixed reactions, as some students are tired of the constant ASUU-FG back and forth, while others are hoping the strike occurs due to their lack of preparation for exams.
Some have also decided to fight the good fight with their lecturers. Some UNILAG students also decided to join the protests.
Right now, the biggest question for Nigerians is, will ASUU still go on strike? Well, let’s wait and see.
