By:
Bello Galadi,
When ASUU called- off its 8- month strike on 12th October, 2022, I was happy because I thought the dust has finally settled.
The current issue has to do with the payment of half salary for October, 2022 to the University Lecturers by the Federal Government.
The Government argued that the Lecturers, having not work for the complete month of October, are not entitled to full payment.
To start with, the nature of employment of the lecturers is permanent and pensionable. By the combined effect of the provisions under the Labour Act, Cap. L1, LFN 2004; the Employees’ Compensation Act and Trade Dispute Act respectively, University Lecturers are not casual workers.
The decision of the Federal Government to pay the lecturers the pro- rata payment for eighteen (18) days as their October salary is unprecedented. It is contrary to Section 7(1)(f) of the Labour Act and it is not in line with the terms of employment.
Section 15 of the Labour Act is sacrosanct that wages should be paid at the end of each period for which the contract is expressed to subsist.
In my humble opinion, President Muhammadu Buhari was ill- advised to have conceded to the idea. The Hon. Minister of Labour, the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives and any other serious- minded Nigerian is morally obligated to support every effort to reconcile the parties and not to further complicate the issues.
Serious nations don’t play politics with education. For how long should we continue to compromise the future of our children for our personal interest?
Lecturers have family to cater for. Whether or not they are legally entitled to full payment for the month of October, I don’t think it is out of place for the Government to give them their full salary.
ASUU had an emergency NEC Meeting last Monday. There was no threat for embarking on a fresh action but litigation is likely.
It is my candid advice to ASUU that before embarking on litigation, it should exhaust all avenues for dialogue as provided under Sections 4-9 of Trade Dispute Act and the relevant provisions in Arbitration and Conciliation Act.
On the final note, I hereby appeal, most passionately, to the Federal Government, on behalf of the Nigerian students, to, without further delay, pay the University Lecturers the outstanding payment of their October salary, allowances and all other entitlements without any discrimination between members of ASUU and CONUA, in the interest of peace, equity, fairness, justice, harmony and cordial labour relations.
Galadi is a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Gusau Branch (covering Zamfara State). He is the President of Bello Galadi Foundation.
He can be reached on:
Muhammadbel_law@yahoo.com and muhammadbellaw80@gmail.com and twitter handle:@bello_galadi1
10th November, 2022
