The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged federal and state universities to implement the newly approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment for junior workers and professors.
The university workers also called for the payment of the arrears without further delay.
SSANU made the demand at its 45th regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State.
In a circular, dated September 21, 2023, issued by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation to Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, the Auditor General said the implementation was approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting.
The circular followed a similar letter from the Chairman of the National Salaries, incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), dated September 14, 2023.
In a communiqué by its National President, SSANU urged the Federal Government to forward the letter to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for implementation.
The communiqué reads: “While grudgingly acknowledging this slight increase that is yet to be officially communicated to the union, our universities and inter-university centers, SSANU urges both federal and state governments to immediately implement the increment and pay the arrears without further delay.
“So, what we expect is that stakeholders, for example, unions, should have been involved because this is our own product. Unions should have been engaged, even if we refuse to sign, but we should have been copied.
“Therefore, what we are saying at this point is that the routine thing to do is that that letter should go to the National Universities Commission. It is the regulatory body of the universities, and the NUC should direct councils and vice chancellors to implement the payment of this 25 per cent and 35 per cent to our members in all universities, whether federal or state-owned.
“The university operates a unique salary table. While we are expecting them to do the needful, we can assure you that this leadership will not rest on its oars. We will follow our usual way of following up things.
“…As we met at the level of NAC, we engaged the National Salaries and Wages Commission, the emanator of that letter, and the IPPIS, to confirm if anything like that is officially sent to them. And as at yesterday (Wednesday) because things could have changed between yesterday and today (Thursday) nothing official has been done.”
The union also urged the Ministers of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Simon Lalong, to work towards the release of the withheld salaries of its members and fast-track the release of the reviewed salaries.
