The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has decried the delay in the release of N50 billion for the payment of earned and other allowances which was appropriated in the 2023 supplementary budget.
The union also decried the non-payment of the arrears of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment for federal universities, inter-universities centres and some state universities.
SSANU made the demand at its 50th Regular National Executive Council meeting at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State where it took positions on a number of issues.
In a communique released on Sunday and signed by its National President, Mohammed Ibrahim the union urged the government to should ensure that the N50bn earlier appropriated should be recaptured in the 2025 budget, including the release of other pending allowances without delay.
The union lauded President Bola Tinubu-led administration for paying two months out of the four months withheld salaries of its members in Federal Universities and inter- University Centres.
It however called for the release of the remaining two months to guarantee industrial peace in universities.
“NEC further noted that the two months arrears were paid without remitting third party payments such as Cooperative deductions, dues for professional associations and others. NEC appeals to the Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, to as a matter of seriousness facilitate the payment of our remaining two (2) months salaries and the third party deductions, so as to guarantee industrial harmony in all Nigerian Universities and inter University Centres,” the communique stated.
SSANU also said it observed inconsistencies on the GIFMIS payment platform like cases of salary shortfalls and inconsistencies in payment of third-party deductions of various universities and Inter- University centres.
“Further enquires unearth that, on migration to the GIFMIS platform, some universities have started shortchanging their Staff by paying incomplete salaries and withholding third party deductions in the name of salary shortfalls, in flagrant disobedience of financial regulations,” SSANU said.
The union also decried the rate of taxation, noting that some of these taxation are affecting “our meagre salaries through the pay as you earn (PAYE) tax, the hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) and numerous unexplainable tariffs.
“This has drastically rendered the Seventy (70) Thousand Naira minimum wage increase useless and of no effect.
“NEC therefore calls on the government of the day to work towards a worker friendly Tax Regime to ameliorate the hardship faced by our members,” the union said.
Speaking on the new natuonal minimum wage, SSANU urged state governments that are yet to implement and commerce payment to do the needful and bring workers in state universities up to same pace with their counterparts in federal universities.
Credit: Thenation
