Strike: FG Breaks ASUU’s Rank, Plans to Release Withheld Salaries of Medical Lecturers

The Federal Government has taken a controversial step that appears to have fractured unity within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by initiating the process to release withheld salaries for medical lecturers who continued teaching during an ASUU strike.

Medical Lecturers Defy ASUU Strike

Medical lecturers from federal university‑linked teaching hospitals, including University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), and Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) did not participate in the broader ASUU industrial action. Instead, they continued teaching, training, and examining medical students throughout the strike.

These lecturers, through the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), formally requested that the government pay them the salaries that had been withheld during the strike period (March–June 2022).

Federal Government Response

A senior official from the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning confirmed that approval has been granted to begin processing their arrears, based on evidence that these medical academics remained active on duty while other lecturers withdrew services.

According to the report, the salaries were to be processed for payment once the workers returned from the Sallah holiday, highlighting a rare instance where parts of the academic staff are treated differently under the strike policy.

This move is widely seen as part of an effort to “break ranks” within ASUU, by rewarding segments of university staff who did not partake in the industrial action — especially when it involves critical health‑care instruction.

Context: ASUU Strike and Government Stance

The broader situation involves renewed friction between ASUU and the Federal Government, with a recent two‑week warning strike declared by ASUU due to unresolved demands. These include longstanding issues like funding, working conditions, and unpaid arrears.

In response, the FG threatened to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy, directing vice‑chancellors to withhold salaries of lecturers participating in the strike while exempting unions not on strike (such as NAMDA and CONUA).

At the same time, government representatives insist that most of ASUU’s demands have been met or addressed through negotiation, although the union disputes this claim and states that key entitlements — including several months of withheld salaries — remain unpaid.

Why This Matters

• Precedent: Paying only certain academic staff (medical lecturers) could encourage others to resume duty rather than remain on strike.
• Policy Debate: The FG’s enforcement of “No Work, No Pay” vs. calls for full settlement of ASUU’s demands remains a major flashpoint.
• Union Relations: The situation challenges ASUU’s internal solidarity and raises questions about effective industrial negotiation strategies.

Related Article: Eid-El Kabir: FG Declares July 11th And 12th As Public Holidays

Summary

• The Federal Government has begun processing withheld salaries for medical lecturers who did not participate in the ASUU strike.
• This decision is seen as breaking ASUU’s collective rank by rewarding officials who continued academic duties.
• It takes place amid ongoing disputes with ASUU over working conditions, arrears, and the implementation of strike agreements.