Report by: JAMILA ABBA, Editing by; JOSEPH IKWOYI
The National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Muhammad Haruna Ibrahim has urged the Taraba state government to immediately pay the withheld backlog allowances of SSANU members of Taraba state University Jalingo.
Comrade Haruna made the demand while speaking at the Union’s 11th, Regular Zonal Executive Council (ZEC), meeting held in Jalingo.
The SSANU president insisted that members of the Union deserve to be fairly treated, as the non teaching staff were among the four components that formed the establishment of a university.
While commending the effort of the Taraba state University SSANU, the Chairperson of the union, Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka for insisting on the rights of members during faceoff with government, the president assured that the national body of the Union will remain supportive to all struggles of her members across Nigeria universities to ensure justice and fair treatment.
“While on behalf of SSANU national, I commend Governor Agbu Kefas, the Vice Chancellor Taraba state University and other critical stakeholders for their efforts during SSANU (TSU-Jalingo) branch faceoff with government. I wish to call on the state government to as a matter of urgency, pay all the withheld salaries/allowances of SSANU members to avoid further faceoff, and allow for a smooth academic calendar.
“I wish to encourage all SSANU members to be dedicated to their duties, committed to ensure the best administrative delivery of the university,” the president noted
He however warned that the union would not support any member operating against the rules of university.
Earlier, Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, the TSU branch chairperson, commended governor Agbu Kefas for graciously approving the part payment of the Union’s backlogs of salaries/allowances and the full implementation of the N70,000 New National Minimum Wage of 2024.
Comrade Ajibauka however demanded the unsettled Salaries and Allowances of staff be settled to foster a harmonious labour management relationship.
“While we appreciate the painstaking efforts of Taraba State Government and the University management in sustaining the University, we wish to remind that there are pressing issues that needs immediate attention in order to foster a harmonious labour-management relationship.
“We demand the full Salary payment of September 2022 and October, 2022, the withheld 28% of June 2022 Salary Balance, the immediate release of the withheld 28%, withheld 51% of November 2022 Salary Balance, the withheld 44% of December 2022 Salary Balance, the 90% Balance of Earned Administrative Allowance (2009-2024), as for over a decade, members of SSANU have been denied their full Earned Administrative Allowance.
“We demand the implementation of a defined Pension Scheme for the staff of Taraba State University, Jalingo as agreed, to establish a financial security of staff after retirement. We call for immediate review of Conditions of Service to align with other universities across the country. We totally reject the retrogressive use of the repealed Criteria and Guideline for Appointment, Appraisal and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff of the year 2012 and call for immediate application of the current Guidelines”. He demanded.