ASUU sues FG, demands payment of withheld lecturers salaries

ASUU sues FG, demands payment of withheld lecturers salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dragged the Federal Government to court asking for the payment of its members’ withheld salaries for the eight months they went on strike.

They described the action of the government as “discriminatory, unfair” against its members.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, filed the suit on behalf of the union.

The FG has insisted on no work no pay and recently got a court injunction in favour of the decision.

ASUU is seeking “a declaration by virtue of the provisions of section 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and articles 2 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratification and enforcement) act 2004 the decision of the defendants to pay the members of the Joint Health Service Union who were on strike from March to May 2018 while electing to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant who took part in industrial action from February to October 2022 is discriminatory, selective and illegal.

“A declaration that having regard to the provisions of section 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and articles 2 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratification and enforcement) act 2004, the decision of the defendants to pay the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors who were on strike from September to October 2021 while electing to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant who took part in industrial action from February to October 2022 is discriminatory, unlawful, null and void.

“A declaration that having paid the salaries of lecturers of the medical facilities/medical and dental academic of the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nnewi campus, Anambra state who were on strike from February to October 2022, the decision of the defendants to withhold the salaries of the members of the claimant is discriminatory and illegal as it violates section 42 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 2 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratification and enforcement) act 2004.

“An order mandating the 3rd defendant to pay the withheld salaries of the members of the claimant for the months of February to October 2022 forthwith.”