News
SSANU begs FG to release 2022 withheld salaries of members
By Francesca Hangeior
The National President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mohammed Ibrahim has appealed to the Federal Government to release the withheld four months salaries of its members to help reduce the economic hardship on them.
In 2022, two months after ASUU commenced a nationwide strike, both SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff of Educational and Associated Institutions also embarked on nationwide industrial action.
The action was to protest the government’s failure to fulfil its promises to the workers.
SSANU queried the rationale behind the government’s insistence on the ‘no work, no pay policy,’ saying that due process was followed before embarking on the strike that lasted four months. Till he left office, Buhari seized the payment of the workers.
However, in October last year, President Bola Tinubu announced that his government would pay four months of the withheld salaries to members of ASUU, immediately raising concerns as to the fate of the members of the other unions.
A few weeks ago, the Nigerian government began paying the academics, leaving out the non-academic staff.
On February 13, 2024, SSANU and NASU unions wrote protest letters to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman over the exclusion of the non-teaching staff from the payment of outstanding four months’ salaries.
However, on March 1 2024, the unions threatened to disrupt industrial peace in universities should the government fail to release the withheld salaries of members.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Ibrahim noted that the union’s patience was running out if the FG did not do the needful.
He said, “Our patience is running out and we are meeting within the next seven days to make a final decision.
“However, we said we should reach out to the FG through this medium so that in the end, no one will blame us for downing tools.”
The president added that the poor economy was taking a toll on its members and the four months’ salaries once released will help cushion its effects.
“Clearly, with the current economic situation in the country, our members are finding things very difficult. After the strike and withholding of the salaries, we lost so many members as a result of their inability to meet up with medical checkups, sent out of their rented apartments, and our children sent out from schools due to non-payment of their fees, among others.
“Once this money is given to our members, it would cushion the effect of the economy on our members and it would give some semblance of justice to every member of staff working in the universities.
“We are using this medium to call on the Chief of Staff, Minister of finance, Accountant General of the Federation and all those that matter in this issue to see the reasons for releasing the four months’ salary of non-teaching staff (SSANU and NASU),” Ibrahim pleaded.
He however threatened, “But anything short of that, we cannot guarantee the continuous work environment to function.”
Niger State’s Executive Council has proposed a massive N1.2 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year.
This proposal was unveiled by Commissioner of Budget and Planning Mustapha Ndajiwo during a Government House Council meeting, as announced by the Governor’s Special Adviser Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo on social media X.
Ebbo explained that the commissioner told the council that the estimate is made up of N188.42 billion or 15.68 per cent recurrent and 1.01 trillion or 84.34 per cent capital expenditure respectively.
The commissioner stated that when compared with the approved budget of 2024, the estimate represents an increase of 32.94 per cent.
” The Commissioner in his analysis also stated that even though the 2024 approved budget was supplemented with the sum of N191.98 billion, the breakdown of the draft 2025 proposals revealed an increase of 1.18 per cent and 32.98 per cent in recurrent and capital expenditure respectively, ” Ebbo stated.
He noted that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago in his remarks, explained that the size of the estimate was informed by the gap in infrastructure and key development areas and the inflationary trend of the country.
After the presentation, the council deliberated on it and approved the estimates.
It then directed the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mustapha Ndajiwo to prepare for submission to the Niger State House of Assembly for approval.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola, son of late Moshood Abiola, as senior special assistant to the president on linguistics and foreign matters.
Segun Imohiosen, director of information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a statement, said the appointment takes effect from November 14, 2024.
“This is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended”
Until his appointment, Jami’u has served as the special assistant to the president on special duties in the Office of the Vice President.
The statement said President Tinubu tasked the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has halted the free bus service system in the state.
The governor had earlier on Wednesday approved the free bus services for residents of the state through the Edo City Transport Service.
In a press statement released by Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the initiative was described as part of the administration’s effort to entrench its policy direction.
The free bus service, according to the governor, was to cover the Benin metropolis and the three senatorial districts of the state (intra- and intercity routes) and was intended as a commitment to enhancing the welfare of Edo residents.
However, in a subsequent statement on Wednesday night, Itua said the earlier announcement regarding the approval of the free bus services should be disregarded.
The statement read: “The earlier statement announcing the approval of free bus services by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should be disregarded.
“The governor is being briefed on issues surrounding the operation of the state-owned Edo City Transport Service, operators of the free bus services.
“For now, the free bus services have been placed on hold. A new decision by the governor will be communicated to the general public.”
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