The Taraba State Government has reminded striking university unions at Taraba State University, Jalingo, that the “No Work, No Pay” policy will be enforced throughout the ongoing industrial action.
In a notice issued on Wednesday and addressed to the university’s Vice Chancellor and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branch of the institution, the government cited provisions of the Trade Union Disputes Act, particularly Section 43. The section states that employers, especially government institutions, are not required to pay salaries to workers who take part in strike actions.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Institutions, Mike Dio, the law clearly provides that employees who withdraw their services during a strike are not entitled to wages for the period of the industrial action.
Additionally, the period spent on strike, according to the statement, will not be considered part of pensionable service.
The Taraba government explained that the reminder became necessary after a series of negotiations and mediation efforts between authorities and the striking unions failed to produce a resolution that would allow academic activities to resume.
“As negotiations and mediation have not yielded the desired outcome for the striking university unions to return to work, the government has no option but to invoke the relevant section of the Act,” the notice stated.
Despite the firm stance, the Taraba government also made an appeal to the unions to reconsider their position and suspend the strike in the interest of students and the academic community.
Authorities emphasized that suspending the industrial action would help restore smooth academic operations at the university and prevent further disruption to the academic calendar.
The communication concluded with assurances of the state government’s regards and goodwill, while urging union leaders to cooperate in resolving the dispute and reopening the institution for normal academic activities.
The ongoing strike, as noticed has continued to affect academic programs at the university, leaving many students uncertain about when lectures and other academic activities will resume.
