By Christiana Onuoha
In the interest of industrial peace in the country’s university education sector, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has call on the Federal government to urgently pay the 4 months withheld salaries owe to its members.
The Senior Staff Association also placed premium on its call for renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/SSANU agreement, replacement of IPPIS, payment of minimum wage to some Federal universities, release of N50b for the payment of outstanding earned allowance, reinstatement of the dissolved governing board of Federal universities and an end to the infringement on the autonomy of universities by the Office of the Head of Service.
Contained in a communique that emanated from a unanimously decision of its members at the 44th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, the Union also frown at non-inclusion of SSANU as a critical stakeholder, in the decision making and implementation of education related national policies such as the recent Student Loan.
Signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, the communique states; “ Let it be known to Government that our members are yet to recover from the effect of the hardship caused by the withholding of their 4 months salaries, and may not recover from it unless government does something about it.
“NEC in session views Government posture and position on the matter as unfair and unfortunate. We are well aware that salaries for those months were prepared, and therefore call on Government to urgently pay the arrears of our members’ withheld salaries without further delay.
“Acknowledging the demise of the Chairman of the Government Team, Prof. Nimi D. Briggs, NEC in session calls on Government to as a matter of urgency reconstitute a new Committee for the renegotiation of the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement as the issue is long overdue. SSANU has earnestly offered itself for the renegotiation process to commence and awaits the invitation of the Federal Government on the issue.”
Furthermore, the communique said; “IPPIS is being used for personal enrichment of staff of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to the detriment of our members and the Federal Government. It is on record that the payment platform is fraught with the same corruption that Federal Government claims it wants to fight with it.
“NEC in session is demanding that Federal Government should consider merging the payment platforms developed by ASUU (UTAS) and that of JAC of SSANU and NASU (U3PS), since it is on record that the platforms are capable of addressing the peculiarities of the University system.
“NEC calls on Government to as a matter of urgency commence payment to the following under listed universities: Federal University Otuoke, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Federal University, Dutsima, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe, Federal University Kashere, University of Maiduguri, Modibo Adamawa University, Yola, University of Benin, Benin, College of Medicine, of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba and University of Calabar.”
It also said; “ Government had promised to release the sum of N50Billion for payment of outstanding Earned Allowances to Universities and Inter-University Centres. This Agreement is yet to be fulfilled. NEC in session urges Government to release funds for payment of the Allowances without further delay as this was provided for in the 2023 budget.
“ NEC in session vehemently condemns the recent arbitrary and blanket dissolution of Governing Councils of Federal Universities by the Federal Government. This action is illegal, inimical to the growth and proper functioning and management of Universities in Nigeria, as the appointment of the Governing Councils are tenured in line with the extant laws as gazetted. For the avoidance of doubt, the Law also provides that Governing Councils can only be dissolved on proven cases of corruption and incompetence.”
On the issue Head of Service, it says; “ It should be noted that at no time has the Head of Service been part of the promotion and appointments of staff of universities. Promotion in the system ends with Councils of universities, where a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education is also a member. NEC in session demands that Councils of universities should be allowed to perform their functions devoid of interference by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation or its agents for that matter.”
The communique also stated; “ SSANU is not averse to the introduction of the Student Loan to deserving students who are desirous of higher education. NEC in session however, frowns at the conditions and modalities of accessing the Loan. The conditions are too stringent for any civil servant’s child/ward to fulfil. More so, SSANU as a critical stakeholder in the university system should be involved in the management of the Scheme.
“NEC therefore requests Government to involve all staff unions in tertiary institutions in this critical exercise as stakeholders. In the same vein, the conditions for the acquisition of the Loan should be reviewed to enable interested students to access and repay same.”
