By Hosea parah, Abuja
Few days after the suspension of the 8 months industrial action embarked in February, the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) on Wednesday took a swipe on the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige , accusing him of alleged treachery aimed at dividing the union.
It called on the federal government to urgently do the needful by calling the minster to order to avoid setting the peace clock backwards and plummet the labour sector in to another crisis.
They accused the Minister of exempting some listed staff from the application of “No work, No pay” rule.
The branch chairman, Mr M. N Almustapha said at a press conference in Sokoto recalling that on Monday August 31st members of the Union received information that a segment of academic staff in the college of health sciences (CHS) were paid a backlog of 7 months of their salary.
According to Almustapha who made reference to a letter said ” the minister exempted some listed staff from the application of “No work No pay” rule in a letter dated 24th October 2022 from the minister.
” The letter was directing the payment of withheld salary of Medical and Dental consultants Association of Nigeria ( MDCAN) if Usmanu Danfodiyo university Teaching Hospital ( UDUTH) Sokoto state chapter.”
He explained further that ” This press conference is called to set record straight and to expose the heinous activities of the minister of labour and employment.”
The branch chairman also alleged that the minister approved payment of members that were only medical doctors in the University as a favour to his professional colleagues aimed at sabotaging the union.
Accordingly, the union accused the minister of bias and attempt to circumvent the already truce reached between the federal government and the Union.
” We still reiterate our call on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, do the needful and call the minister to order before this action sets the peace clock backwards and plummet the labour sector in to another crisis.”