The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sued the Federal Government over “discriminatory, unfair and illegal treatment” of its members.
The suit was filed at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, by Femi Falana, counsel to ASUU.
The suit came a day after the NIC upheld the “no work, no pay” rule by government in the suit filed against ASUU.
On February 14, 2022, ASUU embarked on a strike over issues revolving around revitalising public universities, and a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters.
On October 14, 2022, the strike was called off despite unresolved issues.
From February to October 2022, government refused to pay the lecturers’ salaries owing to the implementation of the “no work, no pay” policy.
The union repeatedly disagreed with the move citing that lecturers cannot be treated like casual workers.
In his ruling on Tuesday, Benedict Kanyip, the presiding judge, said it was within the rights of the federal government to withhold the salaries of workers who embark on strike.
Kanyip described the “no work, no pay” rule as perfectly legal.
In the new suit, ASUU said it was “discriminatory” for the Federal Government to pay salaries of members of the medical and dental academics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra, who were on strike from February to October 2022.
The academic union added that the government equally paid salaries to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), who were on strike from September to October 2021
