Former lawmaker and one-time presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, has urged the Federal Government to initiate contempt proceedings against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its ongoing strike.
In an interview on Wednesday in Abuja, Enang, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that ASUU’s current industrial action contravened a subsisting court order, which ruled that university lecturers are not entitled to salaries for periods they are on strike.
It would be recalled that ASUU embarked on a two-week warning strike on October 13 to press home its long-standing demands, including improved funding, university autonomy, and payment of withheld salaries.
Enang maintained that the strike action was an attempt to compel the Federal Government to violate the court’s ruling.
“They are going on strike to compel the Federal Government to disobey a court order,” he said.
“If you want to go on strike, you must acknowledge that under the law which governs you, you forfeit your salary for that period.”
He drew parallels with global labour practices, noting that in countries like the US and UK unions maintain strike funds to support members during industrial actions, as they are not paid by their employers during such periods.
“My advice to ASUU is to call off the strike and return to work while continuing negotiations with the Federal Government,” Enang stated.
He further emphasised the government’s dual responsibility—not only to ASUU but also to the students, whose education and future continue to be disrupted by frequent industrial actions.
“The academic staff union must understand that strike comes at a cost. The law is clear on this—no work, no pay. They should go back and read the judgement, especially paragraph two, which clearly states that the period workers are on strike shall not be counted for wage purposes.”
According to the former lawmaker, all key issues raised by ASUU have been addressed “passionately” by the Federal Ministry of Education, and he questioned the rationale for the renewed strike threat.
Citing international labour conventions and Nigeria’s Trade Disputes Act, Enang reiterated that the “no work, no pay” policy was both legal and consistent with international best practices.
He warned that any move by the Federal Government to pay salaries for the period of the strike would itself amount to contempt of court.
“The Federal Government must not be seen to join ASUU in flouting the law. The court was asked to interpret Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which deals with payment of wages during strikes or lockouts,” he said.
He praised the recent stance of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who had directed Vice Chancellors not to pay salaries to striking lecturers in line with the no-work-no-pay policy.
“I urge the Minister to go a step further and file contempt charges against ASUU. This will send a strong message that court orders must be respected.”
Enang concluded by reaffirming the need for constructive dialogue but warned that legal boundaries must be respected by all parties involved.
