The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has demanded for immediate harmonisation of salary disbursements across all federal and state institutions to ensure fairness and equity.
Mohammed Ibrahim, national president of SSANU, made the demand in a communique issued on Monday at the end of the 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the unions held at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
A text of the communique was made available to journalists in Abuja.
Mr Ibrahim said that NEC decried the persistent delay in salary payments to federal universities, often weeks after other Federal workers have been paid.
“This discriminatory practice is both unjust and unacceptable.
“The union demands the immediate harmonisation of salary disbursements across all Federal and State institutions to ensure fairness and equity,” ‘he said.
He also said that NEC strongly condemned the continued withholding of salaries of SSANU members who participated in the 2022 industrial action.
He said NEC, therefore, urged the federal government to immediately release the outstanding two months withheld salaries as a demonstration of good faith and commitment to restoring industrial harmony within the University system.
Mr Ibrahim said that NEC expressed deep concern over the government’s persistent disregard for Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Memoranda of Action (MoAs) and other duly negotiated collective bargained agreements entered into with SSANU.
He reiterated that such agreements, which had been reached through structured dialogue and mutual consent were 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,” he said.
He said NEC strongly frowned at the inequitable and negligible allocation of the N50 billion Earned Allowance, wherein only 20 per cent was allotted to the members of the three non-teaching unions (SSANU, NASU and NAAT).
Mr Ibrahim added that 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 (JAC) of NASU and SSANU in August 2022.
“NEC calls for a redress of this injustice meted to our members in the Universities and inter Universities centres,” it said.
Mr Ibrahim also expressed deep disappointment over the continued silence and inaction of the federal government’s renegotiation committee regarding the 2009 FG/SSANU agreement, among other issues affecting its members.
He also called on the federal government to address the worsening state of the economy, cost of living and insecurity across the country, particularly the recent mass killings in Benue, Plateau, and other states.
Mr Ibrahim also reaffirmed SSANU’s commitment to nation-building, declaring the union’s readiness to offer its professional expertise in education reform in service to the nation.
(NAN)
