Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), says it will soon embark on strike over the failure of the federal government to honour the Memorandum of Action (MoA) it signed with the union.
This is coming barely two weeks after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a one-month warning strike.
National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim recalled that the union suspended its industrial action in February 2021 to give the government time to implement all agreements it signed in the same month, but lamented inaction on the part of the federal government.
He noted that there are still lingering issues around the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). He said the inconsistencies of the payment platform has caused untold hardship to its members.
Ibrahim said the union is prepared to present to the federal government the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System (U3PS), which is expected to replace the IPPIS
He explained that the U3PS was designed by professionals and that it captures all the peculiarities including payment for sabbatical, visiting lecturers etc.
The SSANU president pointed at renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the federal government that was long overdue as another contentious issue.
According to him, it was agreed that the 2009 Agreement should be reviewed every three years but decried that 12 years after, not even 50 percent was implemented.
“Part of the areas we have agreed for review are the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, Hazard Allowances, Call/Shift Duty Allowances for Nurses, Doctors, Engineers etc. and Overtime Allowances. They should invite us immediately for the renegotiation,” Ibrahim said.
“Another of our major concerns is the payment of the minimum wage arrears. They told us that they have budgeted for it and that we should submit the necessary requirements which we complied with but yet, nothing has been done.”
SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions will meet in a few days to take a position, Ibrahim revealed.
“We have been reluctant to shut down the universities because of its effect on the education system, students and parents but it appears that our peaceful disposition to resolve issues amicably is being taken for granted by the government,” he noted.
“Our members are facing hardships. The inconsistencies of the IPPIS are still there, cooperative deductions and check-off dues are not remitted to unions. Some of our members who are into the corporation collected loans from banks and the banks do not entertain excuses.”
