President Bola Tinubu has exercised the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy to grant a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order previously imposed on the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Order was originally initiated on February 14, 2022, coinciding with ASUU’s eight-month industrial action that reached its conclusion on October 17, 2022.
The President’s decision is a testament to his determination to alleviate challenges experienced during the implementation of essential economic reforms in the country. It also reflects his acknowledgment of the sincere commitment demonstrated in implementing the terms agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
President Tinubu directed the exceptional waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on ASUU, permitting the previously striking ASUU members to receive four months of their withheld salaries. This gesture aims to mitigate the financial difficulties faced by educators who played a vital role in the nation’s education sector. The withholding of salaries, a result of the eight-month industrial action, is partially alleviated through this waiver.
However, the President’s directive includes a mandatory requirement for both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. They are entrusted with the task of securing a Document of Understanding (DoU). This formal document is designed to establish that the exceptional waiver granted by the President is a one-time offering to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.
