The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has expressed concern over the delay in concluding and signing the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the Federal Government, warning that its members are becoming increasingly restive.
The National Vice President of SSANU and Chairman of the Western Zone, Dr Abdussobour Salaam, stated this on Thursday during the 79th Zonal Executive Council (ZEC) meeting of the union held at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
Salaam said the meeting, attended by representatives from 26 universities across the South-West, deliberated on critical issues affecting members, including career progression, remuneration, conflict management and the unresolved renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
According to him, the renegotiation process, chaired by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, is nearing completion despite several challenges.
“Our charge here is to ensure that pressing issues affecting our members, particularly the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which has been long overdue, are resolved within the shortest possible time.
“We are almost concluding the renegotiation with the Federal Government, but it has not been without challenges,” he said.
Salaam commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the platform that enabled negotiations to continue, noting that some government officials had previously attempted to frustrate the process.
He recalled that the 2009 agreement provided for periodic reviews every three years, lamenting that successive administrations failed to adhere to the timeline.
“The last negotiation was in 2009, and we were supposed to have another one in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” he said.
The SSANU leader appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that the process was not derailed at the final stage by individuals or groups not directly involved in the negotiations.
“We are pleading with Mr President not to allow extra bodies that are not parties to the renegotiation to truncate the process, particularly now that we are close to concluding it,” he said.
Salaam warned that the patience of union members was running out due to the prolonged delay in signing the agreement.
He noted that the union had previously embarked on a strike, which was later suspended to allow negotiations to proceed.
“Already, the patience of our members is running thin. Our members are becoming highly restive and greatly agitated by the delay in the signing of the agreement.
“At the appropriate time, the relevant organs of the union shall make a pronouncement to direct members on actions that will compel the government to complete the long-overdue renegotiation,” he said.
Despite the growing frustration, Salaam stressed that SSANU remained committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement.
“SSANU is not belligerent, but that does not mean we are weak. We will exhaust all peaceful mechanisms of engagement before considering any industrial action,” he said.
The union leader also urged the Federal Government to introduce measures to cushion the economic hardship facing Nigerians, citing rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
He said government must adopt innovative approaches to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal and other economic challenges on citizens.
On career progression, Salaam renewed the union’s call for wider implementation of CONTISS 15 for eligible non-teaching staff in universities.
He lamented that many workers remained stagnated on CONTISS 14 despite possessing the qualifications and experience required for advancement.
“Our agitation has always been that university managements should expand the ladder to enable our members attain CONTISS 15 and achieve career fulfilment,” he said.
Salaam commended the management of OOU for implementing CONTISS 15 for eligible staff, describing the move as a morale booster.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of OOU, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Oladipo Olubomehin, commended SSANU for its cooperation and support.
Agboola said the stability and academic achievements recorded by the institution would not have been possible without the contributions of the union.
He pledged that the university management would continue to prioritise staff welfare and maintain cordial relations with all unions.
Earlier, the Chairman of the OOU branch of SSANU, Dr Abiodun Lamina, lauded the university management for prompt payment of salaries and implementation of CONTISS 15 for eligible members.
Lamina, however, identified shortage of personnel, high transportation costs, staff training and retraining, effective utilisation of the 30 per cent TETFund allocation for non-teaching staff and improved working conditions as areas requiring attention.
He said addressing the challenges would enhance productivity and staff welfare across the university system.
