PLASU threatens lecturers with salary forfeiture, says subsisting strike unnecessary

The management of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos has declared a no-work, no-pay policy on its striking workers.

NAN reports that the declaration was conveyed in a memo from Yakubu Ayuba, the varsity’s registrar, on Friday.

Ayuba said it followed a directive by the varsity’s governing council after its 50th meeting held on September 7.

He said the issues that led to the declaration of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the varsity in December 2021 had been resolved.

The registrar stated that the government had signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with ASUU on August 9, saying that the eight issues that led to the declaration of the strike by SSANU had also been resolved.

He said the ongoing strike by the ASUU at PLASU was just in solidarity with its national body, hence unnecessary.

”In view of this, the state government and governing council of the university have directed the implementation of ‘no-work, no- pay’ policy for members of the two unions who fail to resume work,” Ayuba said.

“The management of the university, acting on the decision of the 50th meeting of the governing council, hereby requests members of ASUU and SSANU to resume their duty posts in the university on September 8.

”Failure to do so management will be paying the salaries of only those who resume.

“Subsequently, non-compliance with the directive may attract further administrative measures including the declaration of redundancy for those considered to have voluntarily withdrawn their services.”

Ayuba said attendance registers had been stationed at various faculties, departments, and units of the university to ensure strict compliance with the directives.

Reacting to the directive, Monday Hassan, chairman of ASUU in the university, said his chapter would continue to stand by its national body at all times.

He said that the university had benefited a lot in terms of projects and other interventions through the struggle of ASUU.

“We’re standing by our national body of ASUU. There’s no going back on this because solidarity is forever,” he said.

ASUU is currently in the seventh month of its 16th strike in 23 years, the crux of which has been a protracted disagreement over payroll software, salary increase, and seeking more funding for Nigeria’s public universities.

A months-long impasse has marred the negotiation process, with many students expressing their frustrations.

The federal government had vowed not to pay the university workers for the duration of their strike lasted.

It said this is in compliance with the labour laws but ASUU would threaten to skip semester work not paid for.