Mary Onyia
THE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, on Sunday, issued a stern warning nto the Federal Government over its non- adherent to agreements reached with the universities body, threatening to continue with strike, if the government fails to accede to their demands.
Giving reasons why it could not call off the strike despite the adverse effect on students, parents and the entire university education, SSANU said the FG has not shown sufficient interest in ensuring that the university education thrives, adding that the government has displayed this nonchalant attitude severally by its refusal to go with the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union.
Another contentious issue they say is the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the federal government that was long overdue was.
SSANU claimed that the federal government agreed that the 2009 agreement should be reviewed every three years but 12 years after, not even 50 per cent was implemented, adding that part of the areas we have agreed for review are the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, Hazard Allowances, Call/Shift Duty Allowances for Nurses, Doctors, Engineers etc and Overtime Allowances.
According to the university body, it was ready to present to the Federal Government the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System that would effectively replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
The National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, told journalists in Abuja that the U3PS was designed by professionals and that it captures all the peculiarities, including payment for sabbatical and visiting lecturers among others.
Ibrahim identified another contentious issue as the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the Federal Government that is long overdue.
He said, “It was agreed that the 2009 Agreement should be reviewed every three years but 12 years after, not even 50 per cent was implemented.
“Part of the areas we have agreed for review are the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, Hazard Allowances, Call/Shift Duty Allowances for Nurses, Doctors, Engineers etc and Overtime Allowances. They should invite us immediately for the renegotiation.
“Another of our major concern is the payment of the minimum wage arrears. They told us that they have budgeted for it and that we should submit the necessary requirements which we complied with but yet, nothing has been done.
“We (leadership of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) are going to meet in a few days to take our position.
“We have been reluctant to shut down universities because of its effect on the education system, students and parents but it appears that our peaceful disposition to resolve issues amicably is being taken for granted by the government.
“Remember it is just resumption, we only suspended the strike to allow government implement the Memorandum of Action and we can resume anytime,” Ibrahim said.