The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has asked the Federal Government to release the remaining two months’ withheld salaries of its members who participated in the 2022 strike.
The union also decried the delay in salary payments to federal universities, often weeks after other federal workers have been paid.
These were some of the issues discussed at the 51st National Executive Council meeting of SSANU, held at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
In a communique issued at the end of its NEC meeting and signed by the National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, the union demanded the immediate harmonisation of salary disbursements across all federal and state institutions to ensure fairness and equity.
SSANU also expressed disappointment over the continued silence and inaction of the federal government’s Renegotiation Committee regarding the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement.
It said the prolonged delay in commencing substantive discussions was unacceptable, demanding the immediate resumption and timely conclusion of the renegotiation process to address the long-standing concerns of its members to avert an industrial crisis in the university system.
The union decried the “inequitable and negligible” allocation of the ₦50bn Earned Allowance, where only 20 per cent, which amounted to ₦10bn, was allocated to the members of the three non-teaching unions comprising SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and National Association of Academic Technologists.
“This allocation is unjust, discriminatory, and fails to acknowledge the indispensable role SSANU members play in the effective functioning of Nigerian Universities.
“It is also in breach of the MoU signed with the joint action committee of NASU and SSANU in August 2022.
“NEC calls for a redress of this injustice meted out to our members in the Universities and inter-university centres,” the communique read.
The union also berated what it described as a persistent disregard for Memoranda of Understanding, Memoranda of Action, and other duly negotiated, collectively bargained agreements entered into with the government.
“SSANU reminds the federal government that such agreements, having been reached through structured dialogue and mutual consent, are binding and must be honoured in full.
“NEC warns that if this pattern of neglect continues, the union will be left with no choice but to explore all lawful and appropriate avenues to compel compliance,” the union said.
