FG releases N8bn to 3 non-academic staff workers

Federal Government has released total sum of N8 billion Earned Allowances to the three Non-Teaching Staff across Nigerian Universities. The three unions namely: Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Unions of Associated and Educational Institutions (NASU) as well as National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had on Friday, 25th May, 2018 threatened to embark on nationwide strike over the release of N23 billion to Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and delay in payment of the N8 billion.

Samson Ugwoke, President of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) who confirmed this at the 34th National Executive Council (NEC), meeting held at Delta State University, Abraka, expressed concern over Federal Government’s unwillingness to fast-track ongoing negotiation despite its promise.

The SSANU President who doubles as Chairman of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the three non teaching staff unions, explained that available information to him revealed that Federal Government has released N8billion Earned Allowances to the unions and that the leadership of the unions would soon meet to come up with sharing formular.
While speaking on the ongoing negotiation on the new national minimum wage, Ugwoke warned Federal Government “not to push labour to the wall. When it comes to the welfare of workers, they start being economical, but when it comes to election, they easily dish out money to buy votes.”

On the security situation in the country with regard to insurgency, Ugwoke said that current reports did not show that Boko Haram has been decimated as claimed by government.
He said: “the military should go back to the drawing board, they should work together as the in-fighting among the security agencies cannot help in the fight against insurgency.

“Budget for the Defence should be well utilized and should not be used to drive big cars by security agents.” SSANU condemned the use of security agencies by the executive arm of
government against the legislative arm, describing such action as “a threat to our democracy.”
He also advised the executive arm of government to respect the rule of law and abide by court judgements, adding that the rule of law is the bedrock of democracy which should be respected.
On the 2019 general elections, Ugwoke raised the alarm that the way politicians were going about the political process was frightening and urged politicians to play according to the rules in order not to bring back the military.
He lamented over bad condition of roads in the South-South and South-East, describing the roads in the two geopolitical zones as death trap and appealed to the government to rise up to her
responsibilities.
Commenting on the inability of the Federal Government to implement the judgement on Staff Schools, he said that the union may be forced to drag the government to court over contempt of court.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja