Breaking: SSANU demands renegotiation of 2009 agreement with FG, may down tools
Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU) South- South Zone has urged the Federal Government to without delay, re-negotiate the 2009 agreement with the association as well as implement the Memorandum of Action.
The demand is contained in a communique at the end of the 4th Zonal Executive Council Meeting of the South- South Zone -SSANU, hosted by Akwa Ibom State University- AKSU.
Briefing newsmen, The Vice President South South Zone, SSANU, Comrade Cheta Azumah recalled that the memorandum of Action, the union entered with government February, 2021 has never been implemented, part of which is the payment of National minimum wage Arrears.
Comrade Azumah regretted that the 2009 agreement the government entered with the union was agreed upon freely to be reviewed every three years, lamenting that twelve years down the line,not up to 50 percent has been implemented and no review has been made.
The communique which directed the federal government to pay up minimum wage arrears to SSANU members without further delay, said that earned allowances and other allowances including responsibility, hazard, head of Units, call/ shift,Nurses, Doctors, Engineers among others should be implemented.
The communique stated that inconsistencies of the Integrated Personnel Payrolls Information System has caused untold hardship to SSANU members by denial of many allowances, stressing that, the association has developed what it termed “the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System” which is robust enough to cater for the University system and workforce.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities commended the Akwa Ibom State government for its worker friendly disposition with members of AKSU and however called on the Cross Rivers State government to pay up salaries of members as well as release their check off dues.
SSANU frowned at proliferation of University campuses in Edo State and urged the Edo State government to concentrate on the already existing universities by ensuring that salaries owed its members are paid and check up dues released.
It condemned what its called ” the non challant attitude exuded by the Rivers State government ” towards Staff school matter and directed the government to settle the matter.
Noting that SSANU has been a reasonable union and reluctant to down tools as it considers the negative effect of strike on the education sector, stakeholders, students and parents, the body however vowed that all organs of the union within the South South Zone are prepared to embark on strike when the get signal from the National body if Federal government pays deaf hear to its demands.
Correspondent reports that delegates at the 4th Zonal Executive Council Meeting deliberated on issues affecting the non teaching staff in the Nigerian University system and considered what it described as insensitive and non-challant approach of the federal government towards the education sector.
