From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to expand the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to universities.
It said extending the CNG bus programme, which is being implemented in various states, would significantly ease transportation challenges faced by lecturers and students in university communities.
The union stated this in a communique issued after its 49th Regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the weekend.
It also expressed frustration over the government’s delay in implementing a presidential directive to release four months of withheld salaries for its members, noting that nearly two months had passed since the directive was given. It called on relevant government’s agencies to expedite the payment process.
Additionally, the university workers criticised the continued delay in the payment of earned allowances to them despite several communications with the government. They recalled that the 2023 budget included N50 billion for this purpose, and urged an urgent release of the funds to prevent industrial unrest.
Also, the council welcomed the reconstitution of the committee for renegotiating the 2009 FGN/SSANU Agreement but urged the government to promptly initiate discussions with the union.
The union urged federal and state governments to address unpaid minimum wage arrears affecting several universities, listing specific institutions where payments are overdue.
SSANU condemned the government’s “divide and rule” tactics, where it engages with individual unions while neglecting others. This approach, according to SSANU, increases tensions within the educational sector. The union called for inclusive negotiations with all the university-based unions.
The union joined other stakeholders in opposing the Federal Government’s decision to set 18 years as the minimum age for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and tertiary admissions, urging a review of this policy.
It expressed concern over recent hikes in electricity tariffs, data plans, and tuition fees in federal universities, arguing that such increases were imprudent given the current economic strain on citizens and called for moderate adjustments instead.
“NEC in session, therefore, calls on the government to redirect the ship of the nation by introducing sound economic measures, gag the corruption monster and provide jobs for the teeming youths to avert the total collapse of the country,” the document read.