University workers under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the non-payment of university workers and poor funding in nine state owned universities across the country.
The association also commended its members over their resilience during the previous strike embarked by the union.
In a communique made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the association also cautioned the Federal Government and vice-chancellors on plans to proscribe trade unions in tertiary institutions.
The statement read, “The leadership of the Union appreciates and commends all members for their resilience in the midst of the hardship experienced during the last industrial action embarked upon by the Union.
“It is on record that despite the non-payment of four months’ salaries, members displayed maturity and loyalty to the union throughout the course of the strike and showed more faith by resuming to their offices based on the assurances by the leadership following the agreement reached with government. Members are urged to continue to have faith in the leadership of the union as no effort shall be spared in pursuing their welfare and rights in the university system.
“NEC similarly urges the Federal Government to expedite the process of upholding its part of the terms of agreement on which the strike action was suspended. NEC noted that the root cause of the recent industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU was the failure of the government in honouring previous Collective Bargaining Agreements entered into with the unions.
“NEC further observed that in embarking on the strike, all due consultations and deliberations were carried out with the relevant government offices. Due process was duly followed in line with extant labour laws.
“The action of the government to therefore withhold the salaries of members of the union is totally unnecessary and has brought about untold hardship to hapless Nigerian citizens. NEC therefore requests the government to rescind this decision of ‘No work, No pay’ and release the withheld salaries of members of the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU.”
Speaking on the status of state universities, the association said, “NEC expressly rejects the current trend in most states in Nigeria, where state governments, that are unable to meet the financial, structural and capacity building needs of state-owned universities, neglect already established universities and approve the establishment of new ones.
