Following the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU‘s one-month warning strike, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has reportedly made it known that any proposed increase in allowances and salaries by ASUU is not in sync with the National Salaries and Wages Commission, and will not scale through.
Disclosing this on Saturday, the minister reportedly made it known that, “The demands were not new areas, but issues already being addressed by the Federal Government since last year.”
He noted that, “That is why I said we are shocked that they went on this strike. These issues were discussed November/ December last year up to the time we paid the monies for the Earned Academic Allowances. It was done last year. We paid N22.172 billion. So, they have received the money.”
He maintained, “The second area is renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. It talks about the renegotiation of their conditions of service, both salaries, and allowances. I made it clear to them that there is a government process. The Federal Ministry of Education alone cannot wake up and increase your salaries.”
He stated, “There are known rates for allowances and any proposal not in sync with what the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission prescribed would not sail through.”
The Minister posited, “I made it clear to ASUU that they should follow the normal route and work with the NSIWC and PSC in pursuit of their demands.”
He emphasized that, “So, if you are talking about duty tour allowances for a lecturer in the university, who is also a public officer, it must not be above what is presently rolled out as the new guideline. If you are talking about hazard allowance, it must not be above what is obtainable for the university system.”
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