The National Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) and the Academic Staff Association of Universities (ASUU), yesterday received new deals from the federal government in what is being interpreted as the dawn of a new era in government/labour relations.
Similarly, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has now dispatched a memo to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to commence the payment of the N35,000 wage award for workers announced earlier in the month by President Bola Tinubu.
The President granted the Resident Doctors an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order instituted against them following their 17-day industrial action between July 26 and August 12.
The lecturers also got a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order invoked against them in the aftermath of their eight months industrial action in 2022.
Consequently, the lecturers will be paid their salaries for four of the eight months seized by government.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said his principal, after considering the faithful implementation of the terms agreement by government and the NARD, decided to invoke the waiver under the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.
He, however, asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to let the doctors know that exceptional waiver would be the last that would be granted them.
Ngegale said the exceptional waiver granted would pave the way for the payment of the withheld part-salary of the Resident Doctors.
He said:”Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023.
“After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.
“In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.
“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Unions.”
In a separate statement on ASUU, Ngegale said:”Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.
“In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.
“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.”
NSIWC gives nod to MDAs to commence payment of N35,000 wage award
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nt, in an October 19, 2023 memo to Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, conveyed to them the President’s approval to commence payment of N35,000.00 per month wage award to their workers.
Nta, in the memo SWC.04/T/33 said: “I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Oct, 2.
“As a result of the dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS).