By Gabriel Dike
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), yesterday, demanded that implementation of the approved N50 billion Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), for staff unions in federal universities, should be based on merit.
The National President of CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, raised serious concerns about the misinterpretation and misapplication of the Earned Academic Allowance to reflect union affiliation rather than academic productivity.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, CONUA emphasised that the EAA was designed to reward work done, not to serve as a tool for preferential treatment based on union membership.
“This current attitude reflected in various releases by different unions on campus and, probably, in collusion with the university administrators, not only violates the original intent of the EAA, but also threatens harmony and fairness across Nigerian university campuses.
“The EAA must reflect the contributions of all academics, regardless of their union affiliation. Any deviation from this principle undermines equity and the very essence of academic excellence. We urge the Federal Government to take immediate corrective action to realign the EAA with its true purpose”, CONUA stated.
The union called on the Federal Ministry of Education to review and clarify the criteria for EAA disbursement to ensure it is strictly merit-based, investigate and rectify any instances of bias or exclusion. It also demanded fairness and transparency to maintain trust and unity within the academic community.
Sunmonu noted: “As a union committed to dialogue, equity, and progress, CONUA remains open to collaborating with the government and all stakeholders to ensure that policies like the EAA achieve their intended objectives.”