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Tag: SSANU

  • SSANU: discard NEEDS Assessment report

    SSANU: discard NEEDS Assessment report

    Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday urged the Federal Government to discountenance last year’s NEEDS Assessment reports.

    The report recommended the reduction of the non-teaching staff in public universities.

    SSANU said if the Federal Government implements the report, it might go on strike.

    SSANU’s National Vice President Comrade Alfred Jimoh spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, at a lecture organised by its Western Zone.

    He said: “The unemployment market in Nigeria may be witnessing another increase, if federal and state governments are deceived into laying off the non-teaching staff under the guise that they are not involved in ‘core academic activities’ and a ploy to ‘halt’ their so-called ‘artificial growth in the system.’

    “This lecture serves as part of the responses of the non-teaching staff to half truth/utter falsehood being celebrated and glorified as the best thing that has ever happened to the Nigerian public universities in the name of NEEDS Assessment Report.”

    Speaking on the topic, Public lecture on the report of the committee on NEEDS Assessment of Nigerian public universities, Federal University of Agriculture Chairman AbdulSobur O. Salam said the NEEDS committee’s report had several flaws and errors.

    He said: “While some could be traced to ignorance on the part of the committee; some other aspects are deliberately created to protect the academic staff in the system.

    “We thus say that the purpose of the committee and its report have failed to ‘objectively and robustly examine the critical human, material and infrastructural need-gaps within the public universities and come up with practical solutions.’

    “For there to be a proper repositioning of the Nigerian public university system, the NEEDS committee report must be discarded by the Federal Government. If we have to return, re-energise and relocate our public universities to glory, the process must start with a serious NEEDS assessment, not a work that is deep with incurable congenital and acquired defects…”

  • SSANU threatens strikes over report

    ANOTHER strike looms in universities as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday gave the government till the end of this year to meet its demands.

    The association wants the Federal Government to reject the report of the NEEDS Assessment Committee on public universities.

    SSANU Southwest Zonal Secretary Comrade Abdulsalam Salam spoke with reporters at the union’s Secretariat at the University of Ibadan (UI) shortly after the union’s Southwest caucus meeting.

    He said SSANU rejected the report of the committee because it was aimed at downsizing members of the association with a claim that the system was too heavy.

    Salam said the adoption of the report would cause confusion and anarchy in universities, adding that the number of non-teaching staff in the report was grossly inflated.

    He said the report was ill-conceived and mainly targeted SSANU members, considering the recommendation that non-teaching staff should be transferred to federal and state ministries of education.

    Salam said the non-teaching staff unions met with the Federal Government team, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, where it submitted its reaction to the NEEDS Assessment Report.

    He said: “The composition of the committee was lopsided and there was no representation by the education stakeholders. It was only a section of the university community that was part of the committee’s decision. The numerical data of non-teaching staff in that report is very wide and many statistics were also fabricated.

    “The government’s stand is unrealistic and unacceptable. We urge the government to reject the report.”

  • N2.1b earned allowance: UI-SSANU, NASU fault report

    N2.1b earned allowance: UI-SSANU, NASU fault report

    The University of Ibadan (UI) chapters of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian University (NASU) faulted yesterday a report, which alleged that the unions planned to disrupt the university operation because of the N2.1 billion earned allowance released by the Federal Government.

    Of the initial N100 billion earned allowance, only N40 billion was reportedly released by the Federal Government to the universities.

    UI was said to have got N2.1 billion.

    The chairmen of the unions at UI, Comrade Wale Akinremi and Olusola Fatoki, described the report as damning and deceitful.

    Akinremi said: “We held a congress on October 24, when we were alerted that the earned allowance was ready. We held the congress to intimate our members on how the money would be shared and to ensure that none of them was cheated.

    “Why would the media suggest that we were planning to hold the vice chancellor hostage and embark on strike?

    “We have not reached the stage of holding anybody hostage in this civilised environment. We do not use a criminal method to achieve our aims. We are not paralysing or shutting down any office, because the money has not even been shared and the school authority does not have the power not to disburse it.

    “We only want the rights of our members to be respected. Consistently, there has been a rapport between our union and the school’s management.”

    Akinremi said the report was one-sided, because only the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Chairman’s reaction was taken.

  • SSANU threatens indefinite strike

    SSANU threatens indefinite strike

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has said it may embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government does not implement the agreement it signed in 2009.

    The National Vice-President of the union, Comrade Alfred Jimoh, spoke yesterday at the SSANU congress organised to discuss the hazard and earned allowances as well as other issues.

    It was held at the Arts Theatre Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The union leader said: “We have been reading the lips of the government and have been observing their body language. We think what they are intending to do, particularly with respect to the earned allowances, is not in the interest of our members.”

    He said the agreement has been in operation since 2009 and some earned allowances from the agreement have not been implemented.

    Jimoh said a struggle is going on with the union in the university system over accrued allowances and other parts of their allowances, stressing that the Federal Government offered something, which does not solve the problem.

    He said the Federal Government paid about N30 billion as part of an allowance that had accrued to over N90 million, adding that they have not spoken on how the continuous implementation of the agreement would be.

    Comrade Jimoh said SSANU has been discussing with the government, which has yielded only promises, adding that when the union discovers that the government has failed, it would begin strike.

    He noted that SSANU would pressurise the government to ensure that all aspects of the agreement are implemented.

    The Chairman of SSANU, UI branch, Comrade Wale Akinrinde, said the congress is determined to hold a peaceful protest from the venue of the congress to the main gate of the university, to sensitise the public to what they experience in the university system.

    He added that they were persuaded by their vice- president not to begin the protest until they discovered that the government was not yielding.

    Akinrinde said: “We do not know why the government is not willing to implement an agreement duly signed between us.”

    He went on: “The Federal Government threw peanuts at us as if we are dogs. They allowed the money to pile up and they are not coming up to say when they will pay the rest of the money.”

    Comrade Akinrinde said the union is also concerned about the development of infrastructures, laboratories and the training of workers.

    He enjoined the unions, workers and patriotic Nigerians to fashion out a way for the survival of the universities.

  • SSANU shelves planned strike

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has shelved its planned nationwide strike in the universities.

    It has resolved to dialogue with the Federal Government on its grievances.

    A statement yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the union’s chairman in University of Ibadan (UI), Mr Wale Akinremi, said the decision followed the prompt intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Emeka Wogu.

    The minister, late last night, held a meeting with the presidents of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which comprises SSANU, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU).

    Akinremi said the unions agreed to sheath their swords until a planned meeting with the Federal Government on April 26.

    “The outcome of our meeting with the Federal Government will determine if we will still go on strike or not. We want all our members to remain calm and be on the alert and fully mobilise pending the outcome of the Friday meeting,” he said.

     

  • No going back on nationwide strike, says SSANU boss

    No going back on nationwide strike, says SSANU boss

    • Fed Govt accused of reneging on 2009 pact

    BARRING last minute development, the proposed national strike by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) will begin on Friday.

    The Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, Mr. Wale Akinremi told reporters in his office yesterday that there was no going back on the action.

    SSANU’s National President Mr Sam Ugwoke directed his colleagues to embark on an industrial action from April 19 over the non-implementation of the 2009 pact the union signed with the Federal Government and the report of the Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities.

    The SSANU chief regretted that despite several meetings of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMG) and its recommendations on how to implement the 2009 Agreement, with particular reference to the Earned Allowances, the government refused to show commitment to full implementation.

    He said: “What we are agitating for is for the sustenance of our public institutions; we are not strike lovers; I am not sure if Mr President is even properly briefed about our demands and if he is not and we embark on this nationwide strike, then the Minister for Education should be sacked.”

    He said over 2000 of its members in UI are now on the red alert for the strike and that mobilisation for the action began since the president’s (Ugwoke’s) declaration at the weekend.

    Akinremi said: “Other sister unions in the universities – the National Association of Academic Technology (NAAT) and the Non Academic Staff of Universities and other allied institution (NASU) – under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) have also secured the same mandate from their members to go on strike.

     

     

  • Varsity unions threaten showdown with FG over planned retrenchment

    Varsity unions threaten showdown with FG over planned retrenchment

    The three non-academic unions in the Nigeria universities, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), have warned the Federal Government to desist from the planned mass sack of the non-academic workers as recommended by Prof. Mahmud Yakubu- led committee.

    The SSANU National Vice-President in South-West, Comrade Alfred Jimoh, gave this warning on Friday, on behalf of the three unions at a congress organised which took place at the Paul Hendricks hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    Jimoh said the report of the committee is full of lies, deceit and misrepresentation, adding that if is implemented, the government should prepare for industrial violence in the nation’s universities.

    “Some of the 189 recommendation of the committee was that there should be an immediate disengagement of non-teaching staff, who are due for retrenchment and stoppage of universities from hiring non-teaching staff on casual, part time or contract basis. It also recommended the conversion of all non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities to the staff of federal or state Ministries of Education to enable government restrict administrative spending,” he said.

    The SSANU Vice-President wondered if the retrenchment of over 40 per cent of the non-teaching staff is the solution to the economic hardship in the country or the bad system of leadership and level of corruption.

    NAAT

  • SSANU shuns meeting with minister

    SSANU shuns meeting with minister

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday turned down the invitation the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, extended to it because of the industrial crisis and the nationwide strike in the federal and state universities.

    SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) had resolved to begin a seven-day nationwide strike following the failed meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

    Wogu had invited SSANU, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada Headquarters via a letter to an emergency meeting with the minister yesterday.

    However, neither the SSANU President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, nor his representative was in attendance.

    Our correspondent learnt that the letter got to Ugwoke’s office after he had left.

    A source, however, told The Nation that he rejected the invitation because it was not extended to the other union leaders in the struggle.

    It was also learnt that Ugwoke queried the intention of the minister to have invited him alone, leaving the other union leaders.

    He reportedly said he would not be a party to a situation where government would want to use divide and rule to break the rank of the university workers.

     

  • SSANU, NASU strike cripples UI

    SSANU, NASU strike cripples UI

    THREE unions in the University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday paralysed academic and administrative activities as they began a one-week warning strike over the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement by the Federal Government.

    The unions are the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

    Although the majority of the students are now on break till January, the strike has disrupted the examination of the 400 level Agricultural Department students, which ought to begin today and the post graduate students’ registration.

    Visitors had a hectic time entering the campus through the main gate, as it was locked and nobody was allowed to drive in.

    Vehicles were blocked by members of the unions who carried placards, with various inscriptions, such as “SSANU rejects every effort designed for the ruination of our future”; “We say no to rough manipulation of our future”; “Jonathan has been an insensitive and desultory President”; “Show human face to varsity workers”; “Let justice and equity be your guiding principle for achieving peace in Nigerian Universities”, “FG has failed us, it keeps toying with our lives”; among others.

    Addressing reporters, the Chairman of SSANU, UI chapter, Comrade Wale Akinremi, said the strike was to compel the Federal Government to honour the agreement, which includes increase in the allowance of the non-teaching workers in universities.

    He went on: “The strike was embarked on because of the unimplemented 2009 agreement. The major part of the agreement has not been implemented. Federal Government has failed by refusing to fulfil its promise. We have exhausted our patience. We feel government is not sincere. It is not concerned about the welfare of workers.

    “We only hear that trillions of naira are being budgeted, up till now, we have not seen where the money is going to. We were even told in a meeting we had with the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufai’, that our money was not included in the 2013 budget, and that our agreement would be due for a review. We are telling government to be prepared for the review.”

    The NASU Chairman, Comrade Olusola Fatoki Cole, said the government had been nonchalant about their welfare, adding that it has refused to honour the agreement they signed.

    Cole said they had no grudge against the school authority, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, whom he described as an understanding man committed to the welfare of workers.

    “Government is not sincere. The public may be looking at us as trouble makers, but we are not. We are fighting for the future of the students. Most of those in government do not have their children schooling in Nigeria. So, they feel less concerned about the poor standard of education.

    “Government has budgeted over N2 billion for the building of the Vice-President’s home, but it does not have money to fund education. If we don’t fight for these students, their tomorrow will be bleak. We appeal to the government to wake up to its responsibilities,” he said.

    A final year student in the Department of Agriculture, who spoke to our reporter, urged the government to address the situation so that their exam would not be disrupted.

  • SSANU may reject report on education sector

    SENIOR university workers have told the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayatu Rufa’i, that unless they are included in the NEEDS Committee she set up to investigate the problems in the education sector, they may reject its report.

    The General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Promise Adewusi, said the union was not happy with the Minister on the constitution of the committee because his colleagues were not part of it.

    He said the union would reject the report of any committee that marginalised its members.

    He said: “We urge President Jonathan to be suspicious and cautious of this report and call for a more all inclusive committee to establish the real reason for the rot. We have always maintained that it is not just about financing. There has been relative industrial peace in the universities. The universities are gradually returning to normal calendar. SSANU is determined to further entrench this welcome development. Nobody should be allowed to truncate this because of egoistic inclinations. One wonders what has become of the various visitation panels on the rot inthe system.

    “It is obvious but very unfortunate that the Minister is programming the universities for another implosion. The President Jonathan administration had managed to return relative industrial peace to the campuses through his equitable resolution of some long standing schisms in university administrations. But with the way the Education Minister is proceeding now, it is certain she is intended to rubbish all of that and return the campuses to turbulence.

    “When she set up the so called NEEDS committee, the non-teaching staff unions had complained about their non-inclusion for a more rational and balanced report. She had said it was an oversight which would be corrected. One is, therefore, surprised to read  snippets of a report already skewed against the non-teaching staff without fair hearing. What kind of equity or natural justice will suggest shaving a man’s head in his absence? How come the Minister is making persons judges in their own case without a neutral opinion or hearing from the other party. Those who have introduced politics of greed and selfishness into the university system which has resulted in the rot must not be allowed to use this so called report as a smokescreen to cover their tracks and witch-hunt others.”