Nigerians struck and protested against the federal government's cancellation of fuel subsidies. Several people were killed by police in the demonstrations., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
FG stops salaries of striking lecturers
October 11, 2013
BY LAIDE AKINBOADE
Nigerian Vanguard
ABUJA—As the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, enters the fourth month, there are strong indications that the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” rule.
Vanguard gathered from a reliable source at the National Universities Commission, NUC, that the government has passed a directive to the various universities governing councils to stop payment of salaries of the striking lecturers.
The ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, Mr Clement Chup confirmed this yesterday after a zonal conference of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, which took place at the Gwagwalada campus to review the nationwide strike.
He said his colleagues were yet to receive their September salaries.
According to him, “we have resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effect of the strike, particularly to contain the various attempts by government to break the resolve of the union. The Federal Government has through the National Universities Commission, directed universities to stop the payment of our salaries effective September this year and since then our salaries have not been paid.
“Part of the welfare strategy, involved distributing food items, giving out soft loans and cash advances to members.”
He urged members of the public to ignore the rumour that the strike has been called off. He said: “Nigerians should disregard rumours making the rounds that the three months old strike has been called off”, adding that “the strike continues until the government demonstrates a positive inclination towards implementing the 2009 agreements and the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fg-stops-salaries-striking-lecturers/#sthash.miO8NkJQ.dpuf
ASUU: Stakeholders divided over NUT solidarity strike
October 10, 2013
By Amaka Abayomi & Laju Arenyeka
Education stakeholders are divided on the decision taken by the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, to commence a solidarity strike in support of striking university lecturers.
While those in support of the solidarity strike are of the view that it would draw the attention of the international community to the state of Nigerian education, those in opposition say shutting down the education system is misplaced priority on the part of NUT.
Rising from its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja on September 26, NUT threatened to join ASUU members in a solidarity strike. It gave the Federal Government two weeks to meet ASUU’s demands or face a total strike that would paralyse the country’s education sector.
Worried by the possible effect of an NUT strike, the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had scheduled to meet with leaders of the union to find out what their problem is with the ASUU strike.
Receiving House of Representatives Committee on Education members, who were on an oversight function to the ministry on Monday, Wike said: “We just heard that the NUT is threatening to go on strike because of ASUU, and we are wondering what the ASUU strike has got to do with the NUT.
“When states failed to pay the minimum wage for teachers and they went on strike, ASUU did not join them. The NUT takes care of basic and secondary teachers’ interests, so it has no business with ASUU. I believe when we meet on Wednesday, we will sort it out.”
Speaking exclusively to Vanguard Learning, the NUT National President, Mr. Michael Alogba said: “We have a NEC meeting next week. The decision to embark on strike was taken by the NEC, and can only be rescinded by the NEC.
Grounding entire sector
“The Minister of Labour and Productivity met with us last week and gave us a situation report from government’s end. It is the result of this meeting we will take to the NEC. But we never had any doubt that a solidarity strike would move the government to take ASUU much more seriously. Grounding the entire sector is sure to get the attention of the international community and as such, put the Federal Government on its toes. That is the power in democracy.”
Calling on other unions in the country to emulate NUT and NUPENG, the National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign, Mr. Hassan Soweto, tasked the NUT to ensure that they are not arm-twisted by gov ernment.“Though shutting down the knowledge sector isn’t the best thing to do, we endorse this solidarity strike because we want the President to do the right thing. We are convinced that all concerned stakeholders who want the sector to move forward would join in demonstrating our dissatisfaction.”
Pointing out that one day of action is a good starting point that would spur others to do same, Soweto commended NUT and NUPENG for reviving the idea of solidarity strike which is acceptable in global unionism.
Opposing the strike action being proposed by NUT, an education policy consultant, Mr. Wale Samuel, rather called on government, ASUU and NUT to reason together and find a solution to the crisis.
“Stakeholders need to give room for honest and open dialogue which, of course, would naturally revolve around the sincerity of government to provide support within available funds and the need for ASUU and NUT to realise that strike may never secure all demands.
“There is the need for them to also bear in mind that, ultimately, these strikes would equally take its toll on the end product of education, in this case, the students.”
Agreeing with him is the President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, who said the proposed solidarity strike would rather escalate an already delicate matter.
“Showing solidarity doesn’t require shutting down the education system as that is fuelling an already delicate and dangerous situation. NUT can show support or concern by engaging government in meaningful talks that would lead to the resolution of the crisis.
“Agreed that all isn’t well with the system but we can’t have a crash solution to years of rot and neglect in the education system.”
For a parent who declined to give her name, the strike is a misplacement of priority as, rather than going on a strike that does not affect them in anyway,
“NUT should be doing everything possible to bring the primary and secondary schools to their past glory.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/asuu-stakeholders-divided-over-nut-solidarity-strike/#sthash.Rl6gfELW.dpuf
A country mostly on strike
Editorial 4:06 am
WHEN staff of the National Aviation Management Agency, NAMA, withdrew their services to protest failure of negotiations between their union and NAMA management on new salary scales the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission approved for them, last May 20, it was the third major disruption of air transport services in two months.
Earlier interruptions were either caused when the authorities grounded airlines or by another set of workers with grouses against their employers. Services were skeletal during the recent case. Top NAMA management staff handled flight operations at major airports, but some foreign-originated flights were diverted to neighbouring countries.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has been on strike for more than three months. The resolution is not in sight as each party holds firmly to its position. There are few considerations about how academic activities scheduled for the strike period, would be managed.
As if in a relay race, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, was ending its own three-month strike, when ASUU’s began. Before them, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, went on strike and ASSU had a sympathy strike with them.
NUT is threatening to pay back the ASUU favour with a sympathy strike that would cripple primary and secondary schools.
The National Association of Resident Doctors is on strike because of implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS. Matters relating to emolument of doctors in public service have been consistently contentious in the past few years with doctors been on long drawn strikes to make their point.
Lives of patients are at risk when doctors strike. Governments have used the issue of saving lives as blackmail in their dealing with the doctors. Endangered patients are at the mercy of the warring parties or if they have the resources, they seek relief elsewhere.
Other unions are on strikes that do not enjoy the prominence of unions in education and health. They are equally disruptive.
Strikes are legitimate instruments for advancing worker’s rights. We, however, caution that they should be used sparingly and remain the last option. There have been too many strikes from the unions, creating the impression that all they do is strike. It is obvious now that most of the strikes failed to resolve the issues.
During strikes, unions and their employers take their rivalry to those they serve. The unions engaged in scare mongering, while the managements provide skeletal services, depending on the sectors.
Governments need to live up to their responsibilities to their staff. Unions, on the other hand, should explore ways of resolving matters without embarking on strikes which are disruptive, and in the case of doctors, cost lives.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/country-mostly-strike/#sthash.7cR0xUYu.dpuf
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