Ngige hates ASUU, responsible for half pay – Lecturers

Teachers in outstanding sections of the United States of America protested Tuesday against the no-work, no-pay coverage imposed on them by the federal government following the 8-day strike month started through the Union of Academic Staff of Universities.

They said Labor and Employment Minister Dr. Chris Ngige's moves towards the union could destroy Nigeria's public universities.

Members of ASUU, University of Lagos Chapter, staged a rally from the Julius Berger auditorium of the college premises to the main gate of the college to protest against the half salaries they received in October.

The aggrieved teachers held a large banner and placards with inscriptions which included, 'Ngige be aware of the records, ASUU will survive you', 'Teachers educate the kingdom but Ngige cheats academics', 'No paints no pay and prorated wages are punitive measures for a renegotiated settlement', among others.

Speaking after the rally, titled "The Casualization of Intellectualism in Nigeria", department chairman Dr Dele Ashiru said Ngige had urged authorities to turn to the 'ASUU.

He said, "Ngige is the agent provocateur; he is the one inciting the government to oppose ASUU. He has an inexplicable hatred against our union and that is the reason why he became our fight for a private fight.

"It became Ngige who poisoned the FEC towards our union. Ngige started the no-paint, no-pay marketing campaign towards our union. Ngige dragged ASUU before the role of the court; Ngige wrote to the Ministry of Finance to prevent our income and prorated it. He registered two stinky unions to weaken our union which became against the law on unions. Ngige also wanted our union outlawed suggesting that we have no longer filed our case. Ngige is here to destroy public universities.''

While talking about the half pay, he added that the government's motion was against all labor laws and best practice around the world, including that the government calculated at pro-rata ASUU salaries in a bid to pit the union against its students and Nigerians.

Also addressing contributors, the President of ASUU, University of Ibadan Chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole called on the authorities to restore normalcy in the field of training by upholding the needs of the union.

He described the government's action towards members of education as repressive, announcing that it has become capable of inflicting greater danger on university groups and students.

National education rights campaign coordinator Hassan Soweto has alleged authorities have turned themselves into growing potholes for the new administration by failing to change approaches with the union.

At the University of Jos, professors also carried signs with special inscriptions.

The president of ASUU, department of the University of Jos, Professor Lazarus Maigoro, who led the protest, told reporters that the group could not give in until the federal government had not paid the withheld wages.

"We condemn the mischievous platform IPPIS as a means of amputating our hard-earned salaries as well as a tool for the criminal diversion of part of our salaries into a non-public wallet at the help of unverified deductions.< /p>

“Our department at the University of Jos calls on the Nigerian public to electrify the government to respect and honor the agreements it has freely and voluntarily entered into with our union, such as the conclusion of the renegotiation of the ASUU-FG 2022 Regulations chaired with the assistance of Professor Mimi Briggs,” he added.

A former vice-president of the ECOWAS Court, Professor Chijioke Nwoke, described ASUU's needs as legitimate.

Furthermore, professors at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta protested the attempt by using the federal government to treat university staff as informal workers.

Speaking on the grounds of the protest, ASUU National Treasurer Prof. Olusiji Sowande accused Ngige of being the reason why the efforts of the FG and ASUU to resolve issues have been discontinued.

He further disclosed that the Nigeria Labor Congress and Trades Union Congress may call for a nationwide strike if the FG fails to deliver on its promises.

He also instructed students to keep the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) and the minister responsible for the eight-month strike lost.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has filed techniques with the National Labor Court of Nigeria challenging the ASUU's initial objection to the significant health of its suspended indefinite strike.

Federal Government Counsel (Plaintiff), James U. K. Igwe revealed this on Tuesday when the issue arose at NICN's Abuja branch.

Recall that on the basis of a referral made to the NICN through Ngige, the holiday choice, Judge Polycarp Hamman, issued an interlocutory order in advance, preventing participants of the ASUU to continue their indefinite strike.

The order, in the form no: NICN/ABJ/270/2022, was upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which also ordered ASUU to present without delay his defense on the important fit as ordered by Judge Hamman before returning the case to the lower back to the NICN President.

However, as each of the parties appeared before NICN Chairman Judge Benedict Kanyip, Igwe informed the courtroom that the defendants had filed a first objection, strengthening the court's jurisdiction to pay attention to the big pursuit. .

He said authorities filed a counter affidavit and written addresses, disputing the defendant's preliminary objection.

ASUU's recommendation, Femi Falana, who clearly joined, did not respond to representations filed with the federal government.

Kehinde Oyewumi, who appeared for the Socio-Economic Rights and Responsibility Project, informed the courtroom that his clients had filed software seeking to be joined as a party in the noticeable adjustment.

After learning all the events, Judge Kanyip found the plaintiffs' methods harsh the initial objection thus filed and adjourned the case until December 13, 2022 for hearing of the preliminary objection.< /p>