The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions

  • NASU berates inadequate funding of libraries

    NASU berates inadequate funding of libraries

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions ( NASU ), has expressed dismay over inadequate funding of the National and State libraries across the country.

    Mr Micheal Adegoke, the Deputy National President of the union, said this at the end of the regular meeting of the WAEC/Libraries and Others Trade Groups in Lagos.

    Adegoke said that libraries, which served as gatekeepers, storehouses of knowledge and a critical element in the educational sector had been neglected.

    He said that there was no way the country could achieve the education for all if the present level of funding of the national and state-owned libraries was not drastically improved upon.

    He described as a national embarrassment, the present rented apartment of the National Library of Nigeria in Abuja and other parts of the country.

    Read also: NASU’s overreach

    The deputy president, therefore, called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the completion of the abandoned National Library of Nigeria Headquarters building, as a matter of utmost priority.

    Adegoke also urged the federal and state governments to improve funding of their libraries so that the aims and objectives of establishing them could be attained.

    He urged the intervention of Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ) in the funding of libraries as it did for public institutions’ libraries.

    NASU and other varsities’ staff unions such as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ) and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) are currently on strike nationwide.

    The unions are demanding that the Federal Government should release N30 billion to them as a condition to calling off their industrial action.

    “Government should release more funds to take care of the arrears of the earned allowance of the three non-teaching staff of universities and commence the immediate implementation of the allowances to forestall further accumulation of the arrears,’’ Mr Alfred Jimoh.

    Jimoh is the National Vice President of SSANU and made the call at a news briefing on December 15 in Akure, Ondo State.

    NAN

  • NASU task FG to empower minimum wage committee

    NASU task FG to empower minimum wage committee

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has asked the federal government to mandate the yet to be inaugurated Tripartite Committee on the Minimum wage to immediately start and conclude its assignment before the end of the year or face the wrath of Nigerian workers.

    Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the union in Abuja, the National President of the Union, Comrade Chris Ani also asked the federal government to direct the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to carry out a thorough audit of how state government who benefited from the bailout fund and Paris club refund expended the money.

    He said any of the state government found culpable of diverting the funds should be exposed, the relevant government functionaries prosecuted and the governor of such states arrested immediately they complete their tenure and made to face the law.

    He said it was unfortunate that the government was not committed to the funding of education, adding that the Federal Government has refused to release its White paper on the report of the Needs Assessment Committee for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. 

    As a result of this refusal he said, the needed intervention fund which Government should have released to our Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for the refurbishment of decayed infrastructure and procurement of teaching, as well as other equipment, remain unattended to. 

    While appealing to the President to accord the education sector its needed priority by declaring an emergency in the sector, he commended the government for inaugurating the Councils of the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education and similarly for inaugurating the Renegotiating Team for the two sectors for the Renegotiation of the year 2010 FGN/Unions Agreements. 

    Ani said that the problem of the payment of CONTISS 15 Migration still subsists in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, adding that “it is the demand of NASU that the Federal Government should speedily address this problem and ensure that all NASU members who have been negatively affected by the failure of Government to act positively on CONTISS 15 Migration are redressed soonest. 

    “The problem of Needs Assessment earlier referred to should also be speedily addressed. The Negotiating Team should also be empowered to negotiate in good faith and reach Agreement that will be binding on Government. We in NASU do not expect another round of negotiation which Government will refuse to honour its outcome

    The union said unemployment in Nigeria remains a big question in the country, adding that at a rate of 4.20 percent, Governments at all levels have no answer to the growing unemployment in the country, adding that the union believe that the only way to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the society is to grow the economy to a productive economy, not an economy that has turned the country into a retail outlet for other countries.

    He however that the union will resist any policy of Government whether Federal or States that is aimed at taking away the jobs of our members thereby sending them into the unemployment market.

  • NLC names states not utilizing bail out funds

    NLC names states not utilizing bail out funds

    • Promise to resist any hike in tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday made good its threat to name and shame states that have refused to pay the complete salaries of workers or make public the utilization of both the bailout funds and the Paris Club refund, saying ten out of the thirty-six states are particularly guilty of the offence.

    The Congress also warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff, saying it will mobilize its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase when Nigerians were yet to get quit service for the previous increase which has been declared illegal by the court.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja said six of the ten states were in terrible situation, pointing out that the Congress has directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months salaries arrears to declare an industrial action.

    While reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s disappointment with the governors over the utilization of the funds made available to them, Wabba had told The Nation exclusively that the Congress was compiling a list of state governors that has failed to utilize the bailout fund and the Paris club refund for the purpose it was meant for.

    Wabba said: “Out of the 36 states, we have ten bad case scenario and out of this ten, we have six terrible ones. We have promised to name and shame them. Those states include Imo that has been paying workers salaries in percentage and has not declared utilization of the bailout fund and Paris club refund. It is part of the states that ICPC has mentioned in fund diversion.

    “They paid 40 percent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law. We have Bayelsa which has between five to ten months arrears, Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti, (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi which is the worst case scenario. 

    “We have three categories of workers in Kogi. We have 40 percent that is being paid up to date, we have 25 percent that has not been paid between eight and sixteen months and another 25 percent that has not been paid between eight and twenty-one months. In all the sectors, they have categorized the workers into three categories. 

    “We also have the case of Osun which is also paying in percentage but are up to date. Ebonyi unilaterally, without discussion with the union tried to reduce the salaries by a certain percentage and have also not made available records of utilization of the Paris club refund. 

    “We have the case of Zamfara which is the only state that has not implemented the minimum wage and all attempt, (including agreements they have signed) to get them to make available records utilization of those funds have failed. The last one is Abia which has a problem with the parastatals. On the average, other states are above Board. 

    “As I speak to you, both Zamfara and Benue are on strike and I am aware that Kogi has issued notice which is in conformity with the decision we took at our last NEC meeting that any state with liability of more than three months should start an action and we will be there to support them.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power that one of the problems in the power sector was low electricity tariff, Wabba said Nigerian workers will not accept any further increase in electricity tariff as it will mobilize to resist it.

    He said: “A few days ago, I received a letter from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission informing us that they want to hold town hall meetings where they want consumers and other stakeholders to contribute. What immediately came to my mind is an attempt again to increase tariff when we have not been able to get out of the one they illegally increased by 45 percent. 

    “The twin issue of fuel price increase and electricity tariff has made nonsense of the minimum wage. We have not been able to justify that 45 percent increase, but now, they are coming again. Let me say emphatically that NLC as an Organisation and all our affiliates will resist any attempt to increase the electricity tariff again. 

    “We have gone to court to challenge their action and the court mad a pronouncement that the process they followed to effect the last increase was illegal and therefore set it aside. Here we are. Even to respect that court order has become a problem. We must continue to respect the rule of law. We are still on that issue because no court of law has set aside that judgement. 

    “Let us warn those people again because, for them, they must continue to feast on us. If this happens, it means more industries will close and it also means more darkness because the more they increase the tariff, the more darkness we have and more burden on the Nigerian worker. Therefore, we must situate our policies within the context of how it can improve the lives of ordinary Nigerian.”

    Speaking of the current economic challenge facing the nation, he said “there is no doubt that our country is passing through very difficult challenge and I think those challenges are to strengthen us, give us hope and make us to think more and be able to respond to issues that affect us. Economies do bubble and burst. Therefore we must not be lamenting that we are in recession or getting out of recession. 

    “What matters is how do we put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian; how do we drive our processes to ensure that industries are working? Once industries don’t work and we don’t produce but continue to import, the situation will continue because there will always crave for foreign exchange for us to import and because we don’t export anything, that issue will continue. 

    “Our focus must be that our economic model is anchored around the people and around the issues of social justice. Once we don’t do that, then the problem will continue. That is why we have continuously engaged the process including options that are going to work. 

    “For instance, the issue of taxation. It is only workers today that pays the correct tax while those that have more than enough, including those with stolen funds don’t pay tax. Why should you continue to overburden the worker that is already paying the correct tax with more taxation. 

    “If I am paying correct tax through pay as you earn if means that I am paying correct tax and to introduce more tax means double jeopardy. If we are able to access the stamp duty alone, we will be able to generate over two trillion Naira per annum. These are issues that we need to address. You cannot continue to rob the poor to make sure that the rich continue to live largely.”

    Earlier in his address, National President of NASU, Comrade Chris Ani said the current agitation for restructuring and fiscal federalism were attempts to divert attention from misgovernance and ineptitude the nation has been going through, adding that Nigerians should not be distracted by elements that have actively participated in the looting and mismanagement of our economy and can be found in the two major political parties. 

    Ani said what Nigeria workers need at this point in time is not whether more power should be given to states, but to know how they have managed the power at their disposal at the moment.

    While congratulating the Government and its relevant officials for bringing the country out of recession, Ani said the union will only join them in the celebration, when workers’ welfare improves; jobs are secured; salaries are paid in full as and when due; wage increase is de-frozen and other withheld benefits are paid.

  • Non-academic staff of universities threaten strike from Monday

    Non-academic staff of universities threaten strike from Monday

    Non teaching staff of Nigerian Universities under the auspices of Joint Action Committee is to embark on an indefinite strike action with effect from Monday, September 11 to press home their demand for the implementation of the 2009 agreement entered into with the unions by the federal government.

    The unions made up of the National Association of Academic Technologists, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said the government was taking the non teaching staff of universities for granted.

    The unions said they have waited for eight years for the government to implement the agreement it freely entered into with them.

    Speaking at a joint Press Conference in Abuja, President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugokwe said eight years after the agreement, government t has not been responsive to the demands of the unions, pointing out that no action appear to have been taken on any of the issues which he said has been implemented in breach.

    The demand of the three University based non teaching staff unions include:

    The payment of Earned Allowances to our members, a review of the governance system in our universities, improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations, provisions of infrastructures in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members.

    Other demand include implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement on University staff schools, registration of NUPEMCO, implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for Technologists, improvement of teaching and learning facilities in the universities, teaming the tide of corruption in the university system, showing more commitment and seriousness in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University unions agreement and ensuring the headship of non teaching units by non teaching staff employed for the purpose of the units.

    Ugokwe said that during the strike, there will be no provisions of services, no matter how skeletal. Concessions shall not be granted while all our members are to stay at home till further notice unless as directed by JAC through their respective Presidents.

    According to him, the unions have engaged in various consultations and dialogues with government on the issues stake and have written several letters and embarked on several protest to no avail, pointing out that several representations made by the unions which have been ignored by the government.

    According to him, rather than address the demands of the union as contained in the agreement, universities have continued to deteriorate, while poor governance system has become the order of the day and has brought the universities to their knees.

    He alleged that corruption has taken its toll on the university system, while infrastructure and facilities are nothing to write home about, adding that while the unions supports government efforts at fighting corruption, they believe that there is more to be done to ensure that individuals found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

    Comrade Ugokwe said further that rather than obey the decision of the National Industrial Court on the funding of university staff schools, the government has kept mute despite series of communication in the issue, adding that it is an irony that the same government that promise employment to Nigerians will approve a circular that send people into the Labour market.

    He said “if an agreement was signed in 2009 and now in 2017, we are still de a ding for the implementation of such agreement, does it now show that we have have been exceedingly patient? Our patient however seems to ha r ur. To an end particularly when federal government to be toeing the dangerous path of taking non teaching staff unions for granted.

    “You would recall that the JAC of NAAT, NASU and SSANU directed a five day warning strike in January this year to drive home their demands. The strike was however suspended through the intervention of the Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment. Senator Chris Ngige who headed the Federal Government t team that interfaced with JAC of the three  unions. At the end, a memorandum of understanding was entered into by the two parties.

    “Unfortunately, seven months after, we are still at the sorry situation we were before the MOU as the issues in contention were not addressed and government t kept a dead silence despite letters and entreaties reminding the, of their commitment to the non teaching staff unions.”