The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions has resumed negotiations with the Federal Government following the suspension of its indefinite strike, insisting that no agreement below a 40 per cent salary increase would be accepted.
The unions said government representatives had requested time to review figures, benchmarks and other issues before presenting a fresh proposal after rejecting an earlier 30 per cent salary increase offer.
Speaking on Monday, the National President of SSANU and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the unions had made their position clear during resumed talks at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission in Abuja.
“They need to review the figures, yardsticks and other issues. We told them to do whatever they need to do, but not to come back with less than 40 per cent,” he said.
The non-teaching staff unions had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 30 over delays in the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.
The industrial action was, however, suspended on May 11 after assurances from the Federal Government Expanded Tertiary Institutions Renegotiation Committee that discussions would continue within a specified timeline.
The unions are demanding the completion of the renegotiation process, improved welfare packages, payment of outstanding allowances and a review of salary structures for university workers.
Ibrahim disclosed that discussions had formally resumed and expressed optimism that the process, including the signing of agreements, could be concluded within two weeks.
“We have resumed discussions today and expect to conclude the process, including the signing of agreements, within two weeks,” he said.
According to him, the two-week timeline began from the date the strike was suspended.
The SSANU president said the Federal Government’s earlier 30 per cent salary increase proposal was rejected outright by the unions because it fell short of workers’ expectations amid current economic realities.
“We rejected the government’s 30 per cent offer, and it has been withdrawn. Our demand remains a minimum of 40 per cent,” he stated.
The latest development signals a fresh phase in negotiations between the Federal Government and university-based unions at a time concerns continue to mount over the welfare of workers in the tertiary education sector.
The unions also warned that the suspended strike could resume if no meaningful agreement was reached within the agreed timeframe.
“The mandate from our members is clear — if nothing is concluded after two weeks, the strike will resume,” Ibrahim warned.
The renewed negotiations are expected to focus on salary adjustments, welfare packages and unresolved aspects of the 2009 agreement that have remained contentious between both parties for years.
The Federal Government is yet to officially announce a revised salary proposal as of the time of filing this report.
