Relieve as Tinubu okays payment of withheld ASUU salaries

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday received new deals from the federal government in what is being interpreted as the dawn of a new era in government/labour relations.

Similarly, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has now dispatched a memo to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to commence the payment of the N35,000 wage award for workers announced earlier in the month by President Bola Tinubu.

The President granted the Resident Doctors an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order instituted against them following their 17-day industrial action between July 26 and August 12.

The lecturers also got a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order invoked against them in the aftermath of their eight months industrial action in 2022.

Consequently, the lecturers will be paid their salaries for four of the eight months seized by government.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said his principal, after considering the faithful implementation of the terms agreement by government and the NARD, decided to invoke the waiver under the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.

He, however, asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to let the doctors know that exceptional waiver would be the last that would be granted them.

Ngegale said the exceptional waiver granted would pave the way for the payment of the withheld part-salary of the Resident Doctors.

He said: "Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023.

“After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

“In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.

“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Unions.”

In a separate statement on ASUU, Ngegale said:”Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.

“In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.

“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.”

NSIWC gives nod to MDAs to commence payment of N35,000 wage award

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nt, in an October 19, 2023 memo to Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, conveyed to them the President’s approval to commence payment of N35,000.00 per month wage award to their workers.

Nta, in the memo SWC.04/T/33 said: “I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Oct, 2.

“As a result of the dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS).

“I hereby convey the approval of President Bola Tinubu for the grant of a wage award of N35,000 only per month to all Federal Government workers with effect from September 1.

“Pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.”

Copies of the memo went to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Ministers of State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman of Federal Commissions, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of the National Assembly, Secretary National Judicial Council, Secretary Federal Judicial Service Commission, Directors General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies and government-owned companies, Auditor-General of the federation, Accountant General of the Federation and the Director General Budget Office of the Federation.

Reacting to the development yesterday, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described it as a sign that government was “committed to working with labour to ameliorate the hardship of Nigerians.”

According to her, collaboration and a productive relationship between the government and labour “is essential for the progress of Nigeria and her people.”

She said: “When the government and labour work together, they can achieve more for the benefit of all Nigerians. I am also optimistic that Nigerians will be relieved of the economic hardship from subsidy removal when the Federal Government delivers on its good plans.

“The government has a number of policies and programmes in place that are aimed at stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. I believe that these policies and programmes will eventually pay off and lead to a better life for all Nigerians.”

Tinubu first announced N25,000 as wage award in his Independence Day broadcast but the amount was increased to N35,000 during negotiation with labour which had called a strike to protest the sharp rise in the cost of living occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

Tinubu approves establishment of seven new tertiary institutions

Also yesterday, Tinubu gave approval for the staggered conversion of four colleges of education to federal universities of education.

Approval also came for the establishment of two federal universities of agriculture, two federal universities of Medical and Health Sciences and five colleges of education.

The Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Obialor-Dur Augustina Okechi, who broke the news said the approval was in line with the present administration’s commitment to ensure continuity in governance and policy consistency.

Establishment process for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, Delta State and Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, Adamawa State is commencing immediately.

Colleges of education converted to federal universities of education are Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

The newly approved colleges of education are Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti State, Federal College of Education, Ididep, Ibiono, Akwa Ibom State and Federal College of Education (Technical), Yauri, Kebbi State.

“The establishment and conversion of these institutions is a further demonstration of President Tinubu’s Education for the Renewed Hope Agenda and will help in improving access to tertiary education in the country,” Okechi said.