The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to consult stakeholders in the sector before making any decision on the proposed 18 years benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions so as to avert crisis in the sector.
SSANU disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of its 49th National Executive Council ( NEC) meeting, held in Abuja at the weekend and signed by SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.
The Union also condemned the decision of the Federal Government to peg the age at which students can write the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at 18, stating that it will no doubt drag the education sector back.
It also frowned at the delay in the payment of four months withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu had about two months ago directed that it should be paid to its members.
The Union called on the federal government to pay its members the earned allowances, noting that N50bn was earmarked for the same purpose in the 2023 budget.
While calling for payment of the four months withheld salaries, it said, “The Union is aware of the Presidential directive for release of the 4 months withheld salaries of members of SSANU and NASU. We are however baffled that almost two months after, our members are yet to be paid. NEC therefore calls on the relevant Government agencies to implement the directive of the President by paying our members their 4 months withheld salaries.”
On payment of earned allowances, the communique said, “We are aware that the sum of N50bn was appropriated in the 2023 budget for this purpose. NEC, therefore, calls on the government to investigate, and also, as a matter of urgency, release the already appropriated funds for payment of Earned Allowances to our members to avert any industrial disharmony in the education sector.”
NEC in session appreciated the government for reconstituting the Committee for the renegotiation of the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement and urged government to expedite action on inviting the union for the renegotiation process.
It also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses to universities to aid in transportation of staff and students.
Speaking further on the transportation challenge occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, SSANU said, “The Union is aware that the Government has commenced distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to various states in the country.
“NEC in session had lengthy deliberations on the matter and resolved that there was a need to request the Government to extend distribution of the Buses to all Universities to aid in transportation of staff and students.”
It, however, noted that the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira have made life unbearable for the masses and ignited widespread suffering and criminality.
Consult Stakeholders To Avert Education Sector Crisis, SSANU Urges FG is first published on The Whistler Newspaper