The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) on Monday Commended the Federal Government on the release of N8billion, representing a further part payment of the outstanding arrears of Earned Allowances to the Non-Teaching Staff in universities.
However, the Union warned the appropriate agencies concern to expedite action on the disbursement of the released fund before the end of 2018 or face industrial actions.
Besides, NASU called on the relevant agencies of government to observe the principles of equity and fairness in the sharing of the N8billion to universities and Inter-University Centres, while it should also consider the Inter-University Centres that did not benefit from the N23billion released earlier.
In a communique issued after the Universities and Inter-universities Centres Trade Group of the NASU held at the Top Rank Hotels, Abuja and released on Monday; the union threatened to immediately commence actions to get this done in the New Year.
“Council-in-session also resolved that if by the end of December 2018 the issue of disbursement of the Earned Allowances is not positively resolved the union will have no other option than to in the New Year commence actions to get the government do the needful on the subject-matter.” It said.
The communique, signed by the Deputy President/Chairman of Council, Comrade Godfrey Ugwu and the Senior Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Festus Ajayi; also expressed worry about the lingering issues between the Joint Action Committee of NASU, NAAT and SSANU; and the management of Osun State University.
It read: “The Council-in-session is worried about the lingering issues between Joint Action Committee and management of Osun State University which has led to an unlawful suspension of both the leaders and members of Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU in the University despite the intervention of the National Leadership of the Joint Action Committee.
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“Council-in-session while condemning the unlawful and unwarranted suspension of Joint Action Committee leadership in the University also expressed its rejection of the University decision to stop the deduction of check-off dues from members of the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU and therefore called on the University of Osun management to reverse this negative trend immediately.
“Council-in-session also called on the University of Osun management to pay the withheld salaries of the Joint Action Committee members of NAAT, NASU and SSANU for the months of May and June 2018 without further delay.”
NASU therefore commended the professionalism exhibited by the security agencies in the state particularly the Nigerian Police Force and the State Security Service and appealed to these security Agencies to continue to demonstrate high-level professionalism in their intervention on the current crisis.
NASU expressed shock that SSANU could order a three-day protest on the issues of the disbursement of the N8billion Earned Allowances and the implementation of the staff school judgment without taking on board the two other unions in the Joint Action Committee; NAAT and NASU.
“Council-in-session felt betrayed and requested that this action has the tendency of creating disaffection amongst the unions in the Joint Action Committee which should be avoided in future;” the communique read.
The Union noted the on-going ASUU strike in respect of the revitalisation of University Education and other issues bordering on staff welfare and also reiterated its commitment in the struggle for the proper funding of education with particular emphasis on University Education.
“It also reaffirms our demand for the payment of the outstanding arrears of the Earned Allowances as well as the continued payment of same by ensuring the inclusion of all the needed funds for the payment in the 2019 budget.
“Council-in-session, therefore, call on the Federal Government in the spirit of fairness to deal with the issue of payment of Earned Allowances and sustenance of same by consciously including the Non-Teaching Staff of Universities and Inter-University Centres in the next release of fund for payment of same.” It added.
The Council-in-session expressed implicit confidence on the leadership of NASU ably led by the President Comrade Chris Ani and the General Secretary Comrade Prince Peters Adeyemi on the way and manner they have been piloting the affairs of the union.
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