SSANU Urges FG Not to Renege on Payment of Wage Award

•NMA gives FG January deadline to implement new salary structure

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the federal government to keep to its promise to increase the salaries of university workers by 25 per cent and 35 per cent

It urged the federal government to release the N50 billion earned allowances provided for in the 2023 appropriation bill to universities and Inter-university centres.

In  a communique issued at the end of the 46th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association, held on Thursday 14 – Friday 15t December, 2023 at the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, Niger State, SSANU appealed to the  federal government to pay a wage award of N35,000 to workers in its payroll effective from  September 1, 2023.

It lamented that only the wage increase for the month of September 2023 was paid in the month of November 2023. The communique was signed by SSANU President, Mohammed   Ibrahim.

“NEC in session recalls the approval of the government to increase the salaries of university workers by 25 per cent and 35 per cent.  Though this proposal is a far cry from the salary increase demanded by SSANU, we regarded it as an award by the government and therefore expected that the award should have been implemented by now.

“NEC, therefore, demands the implementation of this wage increase, which had been captured in the budget before the end of 2023, pending the conclusion of the renegotiation with the government on the mutually acceptable salary wage.

“NEC urges the federal government to commence payment of the outstanding arrears of October and November 2023 forthwith.

“State governments are also seriously encouraged to take a cue from the federal government to endorse payment of this wage award to their workers in order to ameliorate the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal,’’ the organisation said.

On the issue of payment of minimum wage arrears, the association also observed that some of her members were yet to be paid arrears of the national minimum wage, which was approved in 2018 despite the efforts of the union.

It therefore urged the government to, as a matter of urgency, release funds for payment for those omitted various Universities.

SSANU took government to task over the undue delay by the in paying the four months withheld salaries of its members, saying the money should be paid without further delay.

Meanwhile, Nigerian doctors have given the federal government till January 31, 2024 to implement the revised CONMESS and accoutrement allowance with arrears from June 2023 if it wants to sustain industrial peace in the sector.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the umbrella body of practicing medical doctors in Nigeria also appealed to the government to take urgent action to mitigate the impact of exodus of some pharmaceutical companies by creating a friendly business environment and investing in the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday, NMA said it had: “Resolved to give the federal government till January 31, 2024 to implement the revised CONMESS and accoutrement allowance with arrears from June 2023, or NMA will not be responsible for the breakdown of industrial harmony in the health sector”.

In the communiqué jointly signed by NMA President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah and Secretary General ,Dr. Jide Onyekwelu, the  association urged governments at all levels to prioritise the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians by rolling out robust palliative measures.

The association added that there was the need for other social intervention strategies aimed at cushioning the present hunger and harsh economic condition in the country, with the aim of lifting millions of Nigerians out of multidimensional poverty.

The doctors insisted that despite the present economic challenges in the country, implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in depressed economies was possible by instituting innovative funding models such as the so-called “sin tax”, focusing on improved primary healthcare access, integration of technology to healthcare delivery and strengthening clinical governance at all levels.

They said that the recommended  measures will stem the tide of out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare which is currently stifling Nigerians.

In the communiqué, the doctors further implored government to take practical steps to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for individuals seeking healthcare by introducing or expanding social health insurance schemes, providing subsidies or cash transfers for vulnerable populations.

They said government should also  exploring mechanisms to negotiate fair and affordable drug prices while strengthening our local pharmaceutical production sector.

NMA called on the federal government to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the 1 per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund, increase budgetary allocation to the health sector to at least 15 per cent in line with Abuja declaration of 2001 and exploring other innovative funding options for the health sector.