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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The National Industrial Court (NIC) has upheld the no work no pay rule of the Federal Government in a suit filed against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
A judgement delivered by the president of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, held that the no work no pay rule enforced by the Federal Government against members of ASUU who went on strike in 2022 is perfectly legal.
According to Kanyip, it is within the right of the Federal Government to withhold salaries of workers who embark on industrial action.
He, however, held that it is a violation of university autonomy for the Federal Government to impose the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform on members of ASUU who reserve the right to determine how their salaries should be paid.
ASUU had on February 14, 2022 embarked on a strike, which lasted eight months, to press home its demands for a better welfare package, revamping of the nation’s education sector among others.
The strike forced students to spend almost a yeat at home.
The Federal Government subsequently dragged ASUU before the National Industrial Court over the demand of the union for the payment of their salaries from February 14 to October 7, 2022, when the strike was called off