The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)

  • University workers to begin strike

    University workers to begin strike

    University workers  have issued a strike notice  to press home their demand for the implementation of their 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike over the same matter.

    The federal government delegation is meeting with the lecturers today to get them to end the strike.

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

    The unions said they had waited for eight years for the government to implement the agreement.

    Speaking at a joint news conference in Abuja, President of SSANU Comrade Samson Ugokwe, said eight years after the agreement, the government had not been responsive to the demands of the unions, pointing out that no action appeared to have been taken on any of the issues.

    The demands of the three unions include:

    • The payment of Earned Allowances
    • Review of the governance system in universities
    • Improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations
    • Provisions of infrastructure in universities and payment of salary shortfall

    Other demand include implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on University staff schools, registration of NUPEMCO, implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for Technologists, improvement of teaching and learning facilities in the universities, turning 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 during the strike, there will be no provision of services no matter how skeletal.

    He said: “If an agreement was signed in 2009 and now in 2017, we are still asking for the implementation of such agreement, does it not show that we have been exceedingly patient?

    “Unfortunately, seven years 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 them, of their commitment to the non teaching staff unions”

  • SSANU, NASU, NAAT to commence indefinite strike Sept. 11

    SSANU, NASU, NAAT to commence indefinite strike Sept. 11

    Non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities under the auspices of Joint Action Committee ( JAC ) says it will embark on indefinite strike from Monday, Sept. 11 over non-implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    The unions are made up of the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions ( NASU ) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ).

    A statement jointly signed by Mr Sani Suleiman,  Mr Chris Ani and Mr Samson Ugwoke, Presidents of NAAT, NASU and SSANU made this known in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ugokwe said that the Federal Government was taking the non-teaching staff of universities for granted as it had breached the implementation of agreement of 2009 and Memorandum of Understanding signed with JAC in January 2017.

    He said the unions had waited for eight years for the government to implement the agreement it freely entered into with them.

    According to him, eight years after the agreement, government has not been responsive to the demands of the unions and no action appears to have been taken on any of the issues.

    “Our demands includes, 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 infrastructure in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members.

    “Implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on University staff schools, registration of NUPEMCO, implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for technologists, improvement of teaching and learning facilities in the universities.

    “Stemming the tide of corruption in the university system, showing more commitment and seriousness in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University unions agreement, among others,” he said.

    He said that during the strike, there would be no provisions of services, no matter how skeletal.

    He said that concessions would not be granted “while all our members are to stay at home till further notice unless as directed by JAC through their respective presidents.”

    He, however, noted that the unions had engaged in various consultations and dialogues with government on the issues at stake and had written several letters and embarked on several protest to no avail.

    Ugwoke said that several representations made by the unions  had been ignored by the government.

    “Rather than address the demands of the union as contained in the agreement, universities have continued to deteriorate.

    “Also, poor governance system has become the order of the day and has brought the universities to their knees,” he said.

    He also alleged that corruption had taken its toll on the university system, while infrastructure and facilities were nothing to write home about, among others.

  • SSANU seeks adequate funding of Adamawa varsity

    SSANU seeks adequate funding of Adamawa varsity

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called for adequate funding of Adamawa State University Mubi to tackle the myriads of problems facing the institution.

    The SSANU Chairman of the university, James Fwa, said the staff would not have gone on strike if the state government was committed to sustained funding of the institution.

    Fwa said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Yola that the recent appointment of Prof. Kaletepwa Farauta as Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution would only change things if funds were provided for him to perform optimally.

    “If the former vice chancellor had sufficient fund to run the institution, we wouldn’t have been on strike,” he stressed.

    The chairman urged the government to honour its  agreement with the association on  adequate funding and allowing the acting vice chancellor to follow due process in the appointment of the university’s  principal officers.

    “We will not accept any reappointment of any member of the dissolved university top management by the state government.

    “The acting vice chancellor must be given  the time to stabilise the university and advertise the top management jobs as it is contained in the law.

    “We shall accept any former member of the management who would emerge through due process.

    “We will also not accept any appointment of an acting bursa from the office of the Accountant-General, our bursary department equally has qualified hands that can manage the office in the interim,” he said.

    NAN recalls that the SSANU and two other unions within the university have been on an indefinite strike over alleged breach of agreement the government had with them.

    The unions have been agitating for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, promotion, payment of pension benefits to retirees among others.

    The state government had dissolved the university governing council and its management in line with part of the unions demands.

    The unions, with the exception of ASUU, have been on strike since July 26

  • Protest as FUOYE management suspends union leaders

    Protest as FUOYE management suspends union leaders

    Workers of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike against alleged victimisation, intimidation and non-payment of hazard allowances.

    Acting under the auspices of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), they also staged a public protest at the school gate and exchanged words with policemen on ground.

    The protesters heckled a team of armed policemen led by Oye Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sadiku Afolabi, a Superintendent of Police, who warned them against blocking the access road to the campus.

    But the university management has suspended the union leaders for allegedly disrupting the meeting the Governing Council held on the campus last week.

    The angry workers who massed at the gate where they held an emergency congress accused the management of sitting on the promotion of those employed at the inception of the institution while the newly-employed ones were promoted.

    NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye, demanded the withdrawal queries issued them and dissolution of panels allegedly set up to intimidate workers.

    He also said the workers want the immediate constitution of Budget Monitoring Committees alleging financial impropriety against the management.

    Ajibaye said: “We are fighting impunity and corruption is at its peak in FUOYE and we want the Federal Government to beam its searchlight here.”

    NASU Chairman, Dada Adebayo, said workers resorted to industrial action because the management allegedly reneged on the agreement reached after the last crisis in January.

    SSANU Chairman, Babafunso Awe accused the management of being insensitive to workers’ plight saying they won’t back down until all their demands are met.

    Awe also alleged that management has refused to release workers’ cooperative funds which has caused them hardship.

    Reacting, FUOYE spokesman Godfrey Bakji said unions had no basis to go on strike because their leaders have been suspended.

    Bakji described the workers allegation of corruption, intimidation, victimisation and impunity as untrue, baseless, unfounded and an attempt to blackmail the management.

    He said: “The management has issued suspension letters to SSANU and NASU leaders for disrupting a meeting of the governing council.

    “The Council directed that they be issued queries and they were given an opportunity to defend themselves which they failed to take advantage of.

    “On the issue of promotion, those who were qualified for promotion were issued their letters last week.

    “The Act establishing the university does not give room for everybody to be promoted at once, there are processes to be followed.”

    He urged the workers to allow peace to reign, return to their duty posts and see reason with management.

     

  • SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Sunday announced the expulsion 13 of its members in the University of Uyo chapter for allegedly contravening the association’s constitution.

    The National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 57th quarterly zonal meeting of SSANU western zone held at the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Ugwoke said the expulsion took effect from May 2.

    According to him, the members were expelled for disrespecting the association’s constitution and for giving the school authorities of the university false information about SSANU.

    According to him, the expelled members gave the university authority false information, which led to the association being denied permission  to hold its election in Uyo.

    He said that the erring members had insisted that the electoral committee should use the 2004 or 2011 constitution instead of the amended 2016 document.

    “The recalcitrant members felt they are more than the association by refusing to respect the constituted authority of SSANU.

    “They refused to obey the supremacy of the constitution and also refused to obey the National Executive Council of the association.

    “You cannot be questioning the constitution of an organisation you claim to belong.

    “They were part of the national delegate conference where the constitution was passed ratified.

    “The conference, which hold once in four years, amended the constitution in 2016 while another one is bill to hold in 2019-20, when you can amend a constitution again,” Ugwoke said.

    Earlier, Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman of LASU-SSANU told the NEC that 44 members of the association that were sacked by former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Joseph Obafunwa, have been reinstated.

    He also highlighted some of the achievements of the association to include payment of the 17 months’ salary arrears and the implementation of five-year single tenure for vice chancellor among others.

    He commended the institution’s management, especially the vice chancellor, Prof. Olarewaju Fagbohun for his benevolence towards the staff welfare.

    NAN reports that SSANU Western zone comprises of universities in the western part of the country.

  • UI: Students protest against lack of water, light

    UI: Students protest against lack of water, light

    Activities have been grounded at the University of Ibadan due to the strike embarked on by the three non-academic staff unions of the institution.

    They are Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT).

    The unions began indefinite strike on March 10 to protest against shortfalls in payment of salaries and illegal deduction in pension since December 2016.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the three gates leading into the university were locked.

    Some of the students who reside on the campus told NAN that staying was becoming unbearable due to their inability to access water and electricity.

    They called on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, to find a way to resolve issues with the striking workers.

    Director of Communication of the university, Olatunji Oladejo, said he was in a management meeting hence could not react immediately.

    NAN reports that the university has no fewer than 8,000 students in the halls of residence.

  • Ondo Varsity resumes academic activities after weeks of strike

    Ondo Varsity resumes academic activities after weeks of strike

    The Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) in Okitipupa has resumed academic activities  after a six-week strike.

    A visit by a correspondent of NAN to the main and the mini campuses on Tuesday showed that the administrative staff was at their duty posts screening new students and registering returning students.

    The unions: Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) in a joint  communiqué on Saturday directed all staff to resume on Monday.

    Mr. Felix Akinnusi, the Acting Registrar, told NAN that both the students and staff had fully resumed.

    “We have resumed fully for the first semester of 2016/2017 academic session with our 100-level students undergoing screening.

    “Our old students are also doing their registration.

    “Although the strike affected academic activities, we will make up for the lost time as the senate will meet to deliberate on it and new academic calendar,” Akinusi said.

    He said that the institution was in high spirit under a new governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and a new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile.

    The unions embarked on an indefinite strike on Jan. 23 in order to compel the former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adegoke Adegbite, to resign his appointment over alleged gross misconduct, corruption and abuse of office.

    The unions also demanded adequate funding, urgent facelift of the institution and appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor.

  • Kebbi State University gets new Governing Council

    Kebbi State University gets new Governing Council

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu has approved the constitution of the Governing Council of the State University of Science and Technology, Aliero.

    The appointment was announced in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Tueday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Dakingari.

    It named Gen. Muhammadu Magoro (Rtd) as Chairman; Prof. Bashir Aliero, Prof. Aisha Haliru, Mr. Yakubu Mai-Kyau, Amb. Usman Baraya and Dr Manado Adamu as members.

    Others members are: the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bello Malami; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Hajiya Rafaatu Hammani; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Umar Bala; Representatives of the National Universities Commission and four persons to be appointed by the University Senate.

    The institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had recently issued a two weeks ultimatum to the government to constitute the council.

    The statement said the members of the governing council would be inaugurated by the governor on Thursday, March 2, 2017.

     

  • LASU staff comply with 5-day warning strike

    LASU staff comply with 5-day warning strike

    The Non-academic Staff, Lagos State University (LASU), on Monday, complied with the five-day warning strike by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions in the institution to press their demands.
    ‎
    ‎The unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).‎

    Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman, SSANU-LASU Chapter, told NAN that the three unions in the university totally complied with the strike in line with the directive of their national bodies.

    Oseni said ‎all administrative activities in the institution had been grounded as its non-academic staff had downed tools following the directive by JAC.

    He said that machinery, such as the strike monitoring team were in place ‎to ensure that all staff fully complied with the action.

    Oseni urged the government to do the needful and attend to the issues raised by the unions’ national leaders before the warning strike elapsed.

    “But we will await further directive from our leaders on the next line of action if the government does otherwise, as ‎failure to do the needful, will be unacceptable to the unions,’’ he said.
    ‎
    Mr Albert Agosu, ‎NASU-LASU chairman also confirmed that the union members in the institution had commenced strike as directed.

    Agosu said NASU-LASU had earlier sent a letter to its management to inform them of the action and also summoned a congress to intimate its members also.

    “Henceforth, for the five days declared, the strike will be total as directed,’’ he said.‎
    ‎
    The JAC of the unions said in a statement that the warning strike became effective on Jan. 16,  due to the inability of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Agreements with the unions.
    ‎
    It said that a joint letter for the warning strike by Mr Samson Ugwoke, SSANU President, Mr Sani Suleiman, President of NAAT and Chris Ani, NASU President was sent to the Minister of Education.

    It added that the letter was also copied to the Minister Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and President of Nigeria Labour Congress.

    The statement quoted the committee as saying that “the university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which needs to be addressed holistically.

    “Poor funding of our universities, shortfall in payment of staff salaries, increasing corruption in the university system should be addressed’’.

    It also listed among the problems that required the attention of the government to include inadequate physical infrastructure and abandoned projects which, the unions said, had reduced the capacity and output of its members. ‎

  • One feared dead as FUTA workers protest in Ondo

    One feared dead as FUTA workers protest in Ondo

    One person Monday lost his life during a protest by some workers of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).

    The protesters who were said to be members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) were demanding the sack of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola who was alleged of financial impropriety.

    Prof Daramola had since September appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition which indicted him.

    Workers in the institution had protested on several occasions against the retention of the VC, claiming that his services should be suspended pending the conclusion of investigations by the anti-graft agency.

    The protesters who converged on the entrance to the Vice Chancellor’s office as early as 7.00 am prevented the VC and his aides from entering the office.

    It was learnt that the driver of one of the vehicles in the entourage of the VC hit one of the protesters while making attempt to reverse the vehicle.

    He was said to have been rushed to the hospital, but reportedly died few minutes after.

    Although the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained as at press time, it was gathered that the deceased was one of the staff of the University Staff secondary school recently sacked by the management of the university.

    The incident reportedly triggered violence in the university campus as many individuals joined them to protest against the incident.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo said he was not aware of the development, saying he was out of the university campus as at the time he was called for reaction.

    Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police command, Mr. Femi Joseph said the matter was a vehicular accident, adding that the Police are still investigating the matter.