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Any proposed rise in allowances and wages by the Academic Staff Union of Universities that is not in line with the Salaries and Wages Commission will not be implemented, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has said.
Recall that after a midnight meeting, ASUU declared a one-month strike beginning February 14th.
The minister also instructed the union to engage with the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission and the Presidential Steering Committee on salaries and wages to achieve the best possible results.
Ngige, while speaking to Saturday PUNCH, explained that one of ASUU’s major demands was centered on the increase in allowances and salaries.
According to the minister, increment in salaries and allowances is a process that undergoes the due process.
He said, “The demands were not new areas, but issues already being addressed by the Federal Government since last year.
“That is why I said we are shocked that they went on this strike. These issues were discussed in November/ December last year up to the time we paid the monies for the Earned Academic Allowances. It was done last year. We paid N22.172 billion. So, they have received the money.
“The second area is renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. It talks about renegotiation of their conditions of service, both salaries, and allowances. I made it clear to them that there is a government process. The Federal Ministry of Education alone cannot wake up and increase your salaries.
“There are known rates for allowances and any proposal not in sync with what the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission prescribed would not sail through.
“I made it clear to ASUU that they should follow the normal route and work with the NSIWC and PSC in pursuit of their demands.
“So, if you are talking about duty tour allowances for a lecturer in the university, who is also a public officer, it must not be above what is presently rolled out as the new guideline. If you are talking about hazard allowance, it must not be above what is obtainable for the university system.”
Fatimah Oyesanmi
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