Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The strike, which began on February 14, 2022, and ended on October 17, 2022, lasted for eight months. A statement released on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed this decision.
The waiver is intended to allow previously striking members of ASUU to receive four months’ worth of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary that were withheld during the industrial action. However, President Tinubu has attached a mandatory requirement to this grant. The Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment are tasked with securing a Document of Understanding that will establish that this exceptional waiver will be the last one to be granted to ASUU and other education sector unions.
The decision to invoke the principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy was made in order to mitigate the difficulties faced during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country. It also recognizes the faithful implementation of terms agreed upon during negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This decision seeks to address the financial challenges faced by ASUU members and promote the resolution of labor disputes in the education sector.
