FG halts salaries of striking Lecturers as strike enters fourth month

 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."