FALANA KICKS AS NGIGE ASKS FG TO PAY WITHHELD SALARIES OF UNIZIK LECTURERS

Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has opposed the move by Chris Ngige, minister of labour, to facilitate the payment of withheld salaries of some lecturers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK).

The salaries of the lecturers were withheld as a result of the eight-month nationwide industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last year.

You will recall, In 2022, lecturers under ASUU embarked on an eight-month strike over the non-implementation of their demands by the federal government.

Members of the union have been at loggerheads with the government since the strike ended over non-payment of their salaries for the period the industrial action lasted.

Reacting, in a statement, Falana argued that the minister’s action contradicts the law.

The lawyer, who is the counsel to ASUU amid the lingering face-off, said contrary to Ngige’s claim, the entire lecturers of UNIZIK joined the eight-month strike last year.

He said and i read, “Dr. Ngige has convinced the federal government not to pay ASUU members for embarking on strike in 2022. But he has decided to isolate his colleagues in his home state for special favour by causing their salaries to be paid for the period of the same strike,” End Quote