FG Reaches Truce With Non-Teaching Varsity Workers

The Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee of the non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities have reached an agreement over the ongoing strike by the workers.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this at a conciliatory meeting with the leadership of the JAC of the unions and other officials of the Ministry of Education on Friday in Abuja.

Advertisement

The non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities under the auspices of JAC embarked on strike on Monday over non- implementation of the 2009 agreement.

The workers belong to the National Association of Academic Technologists, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities.

The demands of the unions included the payment of earned allowances, a review of the governance system in universities and improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations.

Other demands included provision of infrastructure in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members, implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on university staff schools and registration of NUPEMCO, the Pension Fund Administrator proposed for university workers.

Advertisement

Ngige, however, said agreements had been reached on all the issues raised by the workers.

“We held discussions on all these areas and we reached agreement on all of them; government has already approved and released some N23 billion for earned allowances in the universities.

“This is for teaching and non-teaching staff of the various universities in Nigeria.

“We agreed on this that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation is to expedite action on mandate for this payment.

“We have the issue of shortfall; the issue is already being addressed and some universities are already credited with some amount of money for their short falls,” he said.

Advertisement

NAN

Leave a comment

Advertisement