University Staff Union Turns Down Government's 30% Proposal, Demands Equal Pay, Warns of Imminent Closure

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, has stepped up its opposition to the Federal Government's proposed 30 per cent allowance increase for non-teaching staff, demanding parity with the 40 per cent approved for academic staff and warning of a possible nationwide shutdown of tertiary institutions.

This stance was made clear on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the University and Inter-University Centres Trade Group Council meeting at the Lagos State University, LASU, in Ojo, where NASU General Secretary, Prince Peter Adeyemi, described the government's decision as unfair and a breach of ongoing negotiations.

Adeyemi expressed concerns over the government's announcement of a 30 per cent increase, stating that negotiations had not been concluded, which raises serious concerns about the sincerity of the process, and argued that granting academics 40 per cent while offering non-teaching staff 30 per cent would worsen existing disparities.

He noted that the disparity would still exist even if the percentages were the same, due to differences in salary levels, and emphasized that granting academics 40 per cent and non-teaching staff 30 per cent would only widen the gap.

NASU members across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have continued to implement agreements reached with other unions without enjoying similar benefits, leaving them restive, with Adeyemi stating that nothing concrete had been concluded by the end of April.

The union has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure fairness in the renegotiation process, with Adeyemi suggesting that granting non-teaching staff 40 per cent would at least be fair, even if it wouldn't amount to the same thing as the academics' 40 per cent increase.

NASU National President, Hassan Makolo, stressed the critical role of non-academic staff in the university system, warning against attempts to undermine the union and emphasizing that all groups, including academic, administrative, and professional staff, must work together for the system to succeed.

Makolo cautioned against "divide and rule tactics" within the system, where some people create the impression that one group is more important than the other, and warned that neglecting NASU would have negative consequences.

He accused some Vice-Chancellors of undermining union activities, such as suspending union dues to paralyse union activities in their institutions, which he deemed unacceptable.

Makolo commended university administrators who maintain cordial relations with unions, citing Lagos State University as an example of cooperation and mutual respect between management and unions.

Adeyemi confirmed that the Minister of Education has withdrawn the controversial circular and scheduled a fresh meeting with NASU before the end of April, but warned that failure to reach a satisfactory agreement could trigger industrial action.

He emphasized that non-teaching staff remain indispensable to the smooth running of tertiary institutions, stating that without them, the system cannot function, and warned that if nothing is done by the end of April, NASU would have no option but to shut down the campuses.