BUK's Non-Academic Staff Unions Protest Over FG's Non-Compliance with MoU

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions and Organized Labour(NASU) under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Tuesday, 12^th January, 2021 protested against federal government's failure to honor a memorandum of understanding reached with the federal government.

Hundreds of non-teaching staff converged in the Senate building of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) chanting various solidarity songs and calling the government to honour its agreement and recent memorandum of understanding signed with the unions.

Chairman of SSANU, Dr. Haruna Aliyu addressed the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas and other Principal Officers that the protest was peaceful and conducted under the directive given by the national Joint Action Committee of the two unions.

He said the JAC had on 8 January, 2021 met in Abuja to review the memorandum of understanding reached and signed with the Federal Government on Tuesday, 20 October, 2020 at the Honourable Minister's Conference Room, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The issues of the MoU according to the Chairman were inconsistencies in the IPPPS payment; non-payment of earned allowances; non-payment of arrears of minimum wage; delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreements and non -payment of retirement benefits of retired members.

Others he said were teaching staff usurping headships of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures as well as neglect and poor funding of state universities.

“It was only yesterday, that the federal government fulfilled one demand which is constitution of Visitation panels for universities,” he said.

In his part, the Chairman of NASU, Comrade Abdullahi Nasiru Rafi, said the non-teaching staff unions would not fold their arms and allow government to play galleries with their demands, noting that if it continues to renege their agreements they have no option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.

He called on SSANU and NASU members to continue to support the struggle in order to emancipate them from the shackles of difficulties put by IPPPIS and other government's unfavorable policies.

The Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Abbas said non-teaching staff members are critical stakeholders in the University and that their work could not be done by any other staff. He noted that the University Management has taken the welfare of staff members with utmost priority, noting that the management would make sure that SSANU and NASU members are not victimized when it comes to their rights.

“We will definitely protect your interest and ensure that your welfare is assured,” the Vice Chancellor said.