By Brave Dickson
A lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Steve Wordu has commended President Bola Tinubu for suspending the “No Work No Pay Policy” imposed on lecturers by the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The lecturer also thanked Tinubu for approving the payment of four months’ salaries which the immediate past administration refused to pay varsity lecturers because the lecturers went on strike.
You recall that the No Work No Pay Policy was invoked in 2022 by Buhari after the lecturers went on strike for eight months.
A statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed that the waiver will allow for the previous striking members of ASUU to receive four months of salary out of the eight months of salary which were withheld during the eight months industrial action undertaken by the union.
The associate professor said, “It is a welcome development as we need to commend the president for being magnanimous on this matter. Having the courage to waive the no work no pay policy and agree to pay lecturers their four months withheld salaries is a good thing.
“But it should be understood that waiving it and implementing it are two different things.
“I hope that the payment will be made faster, knowing that most lecturers were financially indebted because of the strike. However, paying the first four months’ salaries is commendable.
“Also, let other negotiations continue, so as to see how the remaining withheld salaries can be paid. Let there also be a memorandum of understanding between lecturers and relevant agencies of government to prevent future strikes.”
