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Nigeria’s public universities have experienced recurring disruptions in their academic schedules throughout the years, as lecturers have gone on strike to protest funding shortages, inadequate working conditions, and deteriorating infrastructure.
In 2022, ASUU initiated its 16th strike in 23 years, which extended for eight months. In September 2022, the National Industrial Court (NIC) intervened, halting the union’s strike while a legal case was pending.
The federal government maintained its stance on the “no work, no pay” policy, meaning lecturers wouldn’t be compensated for the strike period. On May 30, the industrial court upheld this government position.
However, on Friday, Tinubu, through a presidential prerogative of mercy, decided to intervene in the matter by partially waiving the “no work, no pay” policy, resulting in the release of four months’ worth of withheld pay for the lecturers.
Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, explained that this waiver is part of ongoing efforts to ease the challenges faced during the implementation of critical economic reforms.
Both the education and labor ministries have been tasked with establishing a formal understanding (DoU) to ensure that this waiver is the final one granted to ASUU and other education sector unions.
