Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reacted to federal government’s refusal to pay lecturers their full salary.
SERAP condemned the deductions from the October salaries of members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The body urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and the acting Accountant General, Sylva Okolieaboh, to reverse the deductions.
SERAP also demanded that ASUU members get full salaries for the duration of their eight months industrial action.
In an open letter, deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the deductions amount to punishing the lecturers for exercising their right to strike.
The organisation said the deductions violate the right of members of ASUU to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families.
“Strikes are an essential means available to workers and their organizations to protect their interests”, it added.
SERAP said industrial actions are protected under the Nigerian Constitution, ILO conventions, and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party.
The letter threatened to take appropriate legal actions to compel the Buhari government to comply with its requests in the interest of the public.
