The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, has criticised the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over his alleged authorisation of the part-payment of salaries to members of the union, following the suspension of its seven-month strike in October.
This comes after ASUU in October suspended its eight-month strike in line with an order by the National Industrial Court for the lecturers to return to work.
ASUU, on Monday, stated that it would embark on a one-day nationwide protest over the part-payment.
Speaking on Channels Televsion Programme Politics Today monitored by Truthlivenews.com, Osodeke said Ngige has gone to court, which means he has lost his right as a conciliator.
He further said the union found out that it was Ngige who actually wrote to the Minister of Finance personally, that they should stop their salary.
Osodeke expressed confidence that the agitations of the union would be resolved in the interest of students, parents, and the country.
The Federal Government has however since defended the pro-rata payment to ASUU members in October, saying they cannot be paid for work not done.
Ngige, through the spokesman for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, dismissed media reports that the government was biased in paying the university teachers.
He said that they were paid in pro-rata to the number of days that they worked in October, counting from the day that they suspended their industrial action.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said the ‘no work no pay’ policy embarked on by the Federal Government during the period of strike is premised on the law.
He said the decision is based on the government’s legitimate interest in preventing moral hazard and discouraging disruptive industrial actions.