By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), University of Ilorin chapter on Tuesday embark on protest over living wages.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unions claimed thier members can no longer afford foods, transportation and other basic needs of life.
Speaking at the sidelines of the protest, Mr Zubair Ibrahim, the NASU chairman, Unilorin chapter said their agitation is over salary arrears owed members.
He said: We are hungry and we cannot die in silence. Members are finding it difficult to survive.”
According to him, the Federal Government has failed to address the demands of the unions following their warning strike some months back.
Ibrahim stated that after series of appeal to the Federal Government to pay their withheld four month salaries, nothing was forthcoming.
He explained that NASU and SSANU had earlier giving the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands and threatened to shut down campuses nationwide if they were not fulfilled.
The NASU chairman demand the immediate payment of the four months withheld salaries to members, and the 25 per cent allowance.
He recalled that the unions had reached mutual agreement that the Federal Government will pay N50bn earned allowance, adding that nothing is forthcoming.
Ibrahim also said members reject that their payment should be through the IPPIS which they alleged is inconsistence in it’s methods.
Also speaking, Mr. Olushola Falowo, the Chairman, SSANU, Unilorin chapter lamented that the government is not sensitive to the plights of workers.
He advised that the government should cut back on the expenses of governance and factor in the workers who are getting poorer on daily basis.
Also Alhaji Akanbi Jimoh, the National Financial Secretary of SSANU, stated that the minimum wage for Nigerian workers is constitutional and should be of priority to the government.
“ASSU has been paid their withheld salaries and we appeal that our own should be paid too, he said.
The Union held placards with inscription including “Pay our 4 months withheld salaries, We demand total freedom from IPPIS, and Release our N50bn earned allowance.