By Gabriel Dike
The fallout of the recent industrial action by four staff unions of the Lagos State University (LASU) and the non-academic staff in two other institutions has led to the harmonisation of salaries of the three state–owned universities for academic and non-teaching staff.
The Lagos State Government approved the harmonization of the salaries of the three state-owned universities and the payment is scheduled to begin in January 2025.
The three state-owned universities are the LASU, Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Oto-Ijanikin and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUTECH), Ikorodu.
Daily Sun learnt that the approval was given at an exco meeting of the Lagos State Committee after the report of the steering Committee.
On Friday, December 6th, 2024, the staff unions in LASU embarked on an indefinite strike and the university management was forced to declare early Christmas break to make the industrial action ineffective.
Not satisfied with state government and the management of the three universities respond to their demands, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in LASUED, LASU and LASUTECH on Monday, January 6, 2025, down tool and locked the main gates of the institutions.
With the ongoing strike by NASU members in the three universities, vice chancellors met with union leaders and discussed the way forward.
The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Olatunji-Bello, told union leaders that the Lagos State Government would bear half of N209, 876,162.7, being the shortfall in respect of the increment in the wages of its workforce, both academic and non-academic staff.
According to her, the sum of N104, 938,082.38 would be the addition to the monthly subvention of the university.
She disclosed that the state government would harmonize the salaries of the three state-owned universities for both academic and non-academic staff.
The VC told the union leaders that the new minimum wage has been incorporated in the new salary structure. She said the full implementation of the new salary scale is guaranteed in January 2025.
At the meeting, JAC raised concerns over not being involved in the consideration of the new minimum wage structure to be implemented. They argued that the standard practice is that the unions, university management, and government sit to look at it wholistically before it is finally approved for implementation.
The union leaders stated that it would make it challenging to defend the decisions before their members and requested a copy of the governor’s approval letter for clarity.
NASU chairman and Secretary, Badmus Adesola and Adelakun Segun of LASUED in circular to members said the state government invited JAC to a meeting on December 24, 2024 on the contentious issues.
The union leaders said the Commissioner for Establishment and Trainng expressed concerns and assured NASU that, on or before January 6, 2025, the issues of the 72 months arrears of hazard and transport allowances, as well as the unremitted pension funds, would be permanently.
The commissioner informed them that the Ministry of Establishment would soon invite the JAC of LASUED, alongside unions from other universities, to address the harmonization of the salary structure for three tertiary institutions, payment of the 25/35% salary increment.
In a swift reaction to the strike, the state government in a circular said approval has been granted for harmonized salary structure for the three state universities.
The circular dated January 7th, 2025 and signed the Director, Industrial Relations, Kushimo Anne, said the harmonized salary structure submitted by the Steering Committee set up to resolve the agitations would be salary structure for the state universities.
She explained that the circular dated September 23 from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission used to compute the harmonized salary structure and that a copy has been released to the management of the three universities.
Anne disclosed that funds for the shortfall is being processed for payment as additional to the subvention released to the universities.
The director said to stem the tide of similar agitations; the governor would have series of meetings with Pro-Chancellors and vice Chancellors of the three state-owned universities to find a lasting solution.