The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has actually urged the Federal government to expedite action on the long-awaited evaluation of the 2009 contract with university-based unions, cautioning that growing frustration amongst its members could activate fresh discontent within the university system.
Speaking at the 79th Zonal Executive Council conference of the union held at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, the National Vice President of SSANU and Chairman of the Western Zone, Dr Abdussobour Salaam, stated the extended delay in concluding the negotiation process was ending up being progressively tough for members to endure.
The meeting combined delegates from 26 universities throughout the South-West to go over concerns impacting non-teaching personnel, consisting of welfare, compensation, career development, labour relations, and the pending agreement with the government.
Salaam noted that conversations on the review of the arrangement, which is being collaborated by a committee chaired by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, had actually reached a sophisticated stage regardless of numerous obstacles come across during the process.
According to him, the negotiations have actually made substantial progress, but the last has been slowed by difficulties that have actually postponed the finalizing and application of the arrangement.
He acknowledged the role played by President Bola Tinubu in sustaining the negotiation platform and ensuring that talks continued in spite of attempts by some interests to derail the procedure.
The union leader expressed concern that an evaluation mechanism originally developed to occur every three years had been overlooked for more than a decade.
He described that after the 2009 contract, subsequent evaluations expected in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021 were not carried out, resulting in a prolonged backlog of unsettled issues impacting university employees.
Salaam attracted the Federal government to guarantee that the procedure reaches an effective conclusion without interference from individuals or groups not directly involved in the negotiations.
He alerted that the persistence of SSANU members was gradually being exhausted, noting that the union had actually previously suspended industrial action to produce room for discussion and tranquil engagement.
According to him, members are ending up being increasingly dissatisfied with the hold-up, and the union’s management may be compelled to consult its pertinent organs on the next line of action if there is no progress within a reasonable timeframe.
In spite of the growing discontent, Salaam maintained that SSANU remains committed to discussion and useful engagement instead of conflict.
He stressed that the union has consistently prioritised communication and negotiation in resolving conflicts, adding that industrial action is generally considered just after all serene avenues have actually been exhausted.
The SSANU official also gotten in touch with the Federal Government to introduce measures that would alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians in the middle of rising inflation and the increasing expense of living.
He said current financial conditions require innovative interventions efficient in offering relief to residents struggling with the results of current economic reforms and relentless cost increases.
On staff well-being, Salaam reiterated the union’s need for broader profession improvement opportunities for non-teaching personnel within the university system.
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He especially promoted wider access to the CONTISS 15 wage grade level, arguing that many competent personnel stay stalled at lower levels regardless of possessing the experience and competence required for promotion.
He applauded the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University for executing policies that enable eligible employee to achieve the highest grade level within the non-teaching cadre, explaining the relocation as a spirits booster.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Ayodeji Agboola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Oladipo Olubomehin, applauded SSANU for its contributions to the institution’s stability and development.
He guaranteed members that the university administration would continue to prioritise personnel well-being and keep a collective relationship with unions in pursuit of scholastic excellence.
In his welcome remarks, the chairman of the SSANU branch at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Dr Abiodun Lamina, acknowledged the university management’s efforts in making sure timely salary payments and carrying out CONTISS 15 for qualified employees.
However, he recognized workers lacks, transportation costs, personnel training requires, effective utilisation of TETFund allocations for non-teaching staff, and improved working conditions as areas requiring immediate attention.