Education

How Buhari’s anger led to implementation of ‘no work no pay rule’ against ASUU

The Federal Government’s insistence on implementing its ‘no work no pay rule’ against the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities and other university-based unions was due to President Muhammadu Buhari’s anger on the reduction of ASUU’s demands, sources have disclosed.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, while speaking at the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team in Abuja on Thursday, had said ASUU insisted that its members must be paid for the period of the strike.

According to Adamu, the insistence by ASUU on being paid six months salaries of the strike period is what is stalling the negotiations between the Federal Government and the union.

However, credible sources disclosed that President Buhari opted to implement the no work, no pay policy against striking university lecturers after receiving the status report on the negotiation with ASUU from Adamu.

It was gathered that the President expressed shock and displeasure that the lecturers reduced their demands to only the payment of their six months’ salary arrears.

Buhari was said to have frowned at the lecturers’ action for “wasting the career of a young generation for six months”.

The source further disclosed that the President would have removed Adamu from his position as a minister over report that he has been indulging the ASUU leadership.

It was gathered that President Buhari’s anger prompted the minister to announce the Federal Government’s position on Thursday.

According to The Nation, Buhari was also said to have been angry that the lecturers were still grumbling after the government accepted to increase the salary of professors by 35 per cent and other lecturers by 27 per cent.

A credible source disclosed: “The President didn’t believe that all the lecturers wanted was salary arrears and not much of other demands, including the revitalisation of universities.

“He was disturbed that the lecturers were not comfortable with 35% salary increase for professors and 27% pay increase for other lecturers.

“The President was asking how students would get justice if the lecturers were paid their salary arrears for doing nothing.

“He also got to know that four out of the five striking unions in the tertiary institutions have agreed to call off their strike except ASUU.

“He has evidence to show that his administration has released huge funds to the universities among other reforms. He was not happy that ASUU was not reciprocating the positive strides.

“He directed the minister to invoke the no work, no pay law to enable the lecturers appreciate the enormity of the setback they have caused for the university system,” the source revealed.

The Star