Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Monday, described the continous withholding of four months salary of members by Federal Government , exclusion from 40% pay rise among other issues, as an act of insensitivity to the plight of the workers which is capable of instigating industrial disharmony.
The Union through its President on Monday charged the federal government to release the N50 billion Earned Allowances which it said was captured in the 2023 budget without further delay while asserting that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the universities if the government continues to deprive the workers of their hard earned salaries and allowances.
Speaking during the 2023 Workers’ Day celebrations, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the President of SSANU lamented the alleged exclusion of SSANU members in the 40 per cent pay rise, which was paid to workers in the core civil service.
ValidViewNetwork had earlier reported that University based Unions were not captured in the 40 per cent pay rise paid to some categories of staff of the Federal Government.
The President in his lamentation stated : “Comrades, despite the hostile environment in which we operate, we remain undeterred in our quest to contribute to the building of a great country. Our members have continued to report for duty in the most security-challenging parts of Nigeria. It’s a pity that the federal government has remained adamant in the payment of withheld four months’ salaries during the nationwide strike in 2022.
“You are all aware that SSANU complied with all industrial legal protocols before embarking on strike when the government reneged on its part of the bargain. We have made every effort for the government to see the reason why we should be paid our rightful due all to no avail.
“We are once again calling on the government to urgently pay the withheld salaries without further delay. The insensitivity of government to the plight of workers is provocative and unbearable.”
On the completion of the re-negotiation on Condition of Service which has remained stagnant, “Comrade Ibrahim said, “You are also aware that since we suspended the strike last year, the issue of re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement has not yielded any result. It appears the federal government does not like the industrial harmony in the universities. We are calling on the government to without any delay ensure that the renegotiation is urgently concluded and implemented.”
Comrade Ibrahim asserted that there was no reason that his Union would be excluded from the 40 per cent rise urging the goernment to put mechanisms in place for immediate payment of the pay rise to his members.
“We call on the government to ensure that our members receive their own payment as soon as possible if not, we can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the university We should also place it on record that the N50 billion Earned Allowances which the government promised last year is yet to be paid.
“We are using this opportunity to tell the government to release it as quickly as possible as further delay will not be helpful to the system. The morale of University workers is dampened by the inability of the government to create a conducive environment in the university system, our members work under harsh conditions, yet they put in their best to ensure that our students don’t suffer. The government appears to be paying lip service to funding education.
“It is very clear that government pays more attention to frivolous things and has neglected the workers that generate the wealth of the nation and the future of the young generation. mould the We call on the government to resolve all issues with university workers and also tackle the challenges facing the country.”
Ibrahim used the opportunity of the celebration to assure members of the commitment of the union towards addressing the myriad of challenges being faced by the workers and enjoined them to be steadfast, ValidViewNetwork reports.
