No work, no pay policy: Falana sues FG over treatment of ASUU members

 HUMAN rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday, dragged the Federal Government to court over alleged discriminatory, unfair and illegal treatment of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, regarding the government's implementation of the 'no work, no pay', policy, during the ASUU strike in 2022. 

The suit is challenging the refusal of the Federal Government to pay ASUU members eight months' salaries, which covered the period the lecturers were on strike, last year.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. 

Joined in the suit as defendants are the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation.

In the suit number NICN/ABJ/152/2023 filed on behalf of ASUU, Falana is asking the court to determine: “Whether having paid the salaries of members of the Joint Staff Union, National Association of Resident Doctors and lecturers in the Medical Facilities/Medical and Dental Academic of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus in Anambra State, during the period of strikes, the decision of the defendants to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant from February to October 2022 is not discriminatory and illegal.”

Falana is also asking the court to determine “Whether members of ASUU are not entitled to the payment of their salaries for February to October 2022, forthwith.”

In the suit, he stated: “Lecturers’ duties cover the following areas: Seminars (peer-review of journals, serving in professional bodies, public lectures, serving on board of parastatals); research (gathering data, reading new books and journals, writing and publishing scholars text); teaching, amongst others. 

“Despite repeated demands, the defendants have refused to pay the salaries of members of the claimant who took part in the strike that took place from February to October 2022."

ASUU is, therefore, seeking, among others: “A declaration by the provisions of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 2 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004 the decision of the defendants to pay the members of the Joint Health Service Union who were on strike from March to May 2018 while electing to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant who took part in industrial action from February to October 2022 is discriminatory, selective and illegal."