STRIKE: ASUU ISSUES IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SSANU, OTHERS ON NEGOTIATION
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over alleged attempts by the federal government to pit it against the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other tertiary institution-based unions.
The warning comes amid renewed negotiations over the 2009 Agreement for university staff salaries, which are being revisited by a Prof. Nimi-Briggs-led committee.
SSANU Raises Alarm
On Tuesday, SSANU cautioned the Nimi-Briggs Committee against creating disparities in salaries between academic and non-academic staff. The union warned that it would not accept any differential that could lead to inequality and vowed to take legal action if such a proposal is implemented.
President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated:
“We have read in the media that there is a proposal for the review of salary for university staff with a differential of teaching staff taking between 108 to 180 per cent and an unreasonable 10 per cent for non-teaching staff.”
He described such a disparity as a potential source of fresh problems within the university system.
ASUU Responds
In response, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, advised other unions to focus on negotiating for their own members rather than being drawn into conflicts.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Osodeke said:
“We don’t talk about them (SSANU and others) as a union. They should go and negotiate for their members because they are different unions. What the government is trying to do is just to create divisions between us.
If that is what they want, we don’t want to be part of it. They should go and negotiate for their members; that’s all! The two unions don’t negotiate the same thing.”
He emphasized that ASUU remains resolute in its dealings and would not be drawn into disputes that could undermine unity among university staff.
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The development highlights the ongoing tension in negotiations over university staff salaries, as the government seeks to revise pay structures while unions remain vigilant against measures that could create inequality or division within the tertiary education sector.
