Governor Nasir El-Rufai led administration has declared the
strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as illegal.
The government also said that it will not pay for days
lecturers of the state owned university did not work.
El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement lamented
the ongoing action, noting that there was no dispute between the government and
the striking lecturers.
“The Kaduna State Government is in receipt of communication
from the Kaduna State University, KASU branch of ASUU, confirming that the
branch has joined the nationwide strike because they are full members of the
national union”, he said.
“This is unacceptable to the state government. It is an
anomaly that employees can be on strike without declaring a dispute with their
employer.
“It bears restating that Nigeria is a federation of states,
and no trade union can alter this federal reality by imposing on an employer
state government the terms that federal employees have agreed with the Federal
Government.
“The Kaduna State Government is not affected, or bound by
any dispute, disagreement or agreement ASUU may have with the Federal
Government. As a sub-national entity, the Kaduna State Government is separate
from the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Constitution of Nigeria clearly
attests to this.
“It is the considered view of the Kaduna State Government
that the KASU branch of ASUU has embarked on an unlawful strike. Therefore, the
Kaduna State Government is not liable for salaries and allowances for the
period of the unlawful strike.
“The government shall proceed to initiate the necessary
disciplinary steps in accordance with Kaduna State Public Service Rules with
respect to the individual acts of commission or omission of those that choose
to join or persist in an unlawful strike”, the statement added.
By Wale Odunsi
