Temporary succour may have come the way of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as President Bola Tinubu has approved a partial waiver on the “No Work, No Pay” policy invoked by the government at the wake of the eight months strike embarked upon by the university teachers last year.
Consequently, the President has approved payment of four out of the eight months salaries being owed the university teaching staff in order to mitigate the harsh economic difficulties in the country.
President Tinubu while granting the waiver, directed the Federal Ministries of Education, Labour and Employment to secure a mandatory Document of Understanding, DoU, establishing that the exceptional waiver will be the last one to be granted to ASUU and all other Education Sector Unions.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on Friday read:
“Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.
“In view of his determination 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 fruitful deliberations between ASUU 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 ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.
“The President has directed 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 (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.”