The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has called for equal allowances with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as negotiations with the Federal Government continue. NASU General Secretary, Mr Peters Adeyemi, made the union’s position known while speaking with journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, during the recently concluded 114th Session of the International Labour Conference. Adeyemi said non-academic staff play vital roles in the running of universities and should receive the same welfare benefits as their academic counterparts.
According to him, the demand follows the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent increase in allowances for ASUU members. He argued that NASU members face the same economic challenges and should not be excluded from similar benefits. “We are demanding that whatever is given to ASUU should also be given to us because we face the same economic realities,” Adeyemi said.
He revealed that NASU had rejected a previous government proposal of a 30 per cent increase in allowances, insisting that it was not on par with what had been approved for ASUU. “Government offered us 30 per cent and we said no. Though they are our senior colleagues, but we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel,” he said.
Adeyemi noted that rising living costs affect all workers, regardless of their role within the university system. “The cost of living affects all workers equally. We cannot accept a situation where one group receives significantly better allowances than another,” he said. The NASU official disclosed that discussions with the Federal Government have made significant progress and are close to being concluded for the university sector. He explained that the outcome of the negotiations would likely shape future discussions involving workers in polytechnics and colleges of education, where NASU also has members.
“We are almost reaching the end of the renegotiation process for universities. Once we conclude that, the other sectors may not be as difficult,” he said. Adeyemi also accused the government of delaying the implementation of agreements reached with unions, warning that such delays often contribute to industrial disputes in tertiary institutions. He stressed the importance of honouring agreements reached through collective bargaining and urged government representatives to negotiate in good faith.
“When agreements are freely entered into, they should be implemented. Failure to do so only creates avoidable crises in the education sector,” he said. He expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations would produce positive results and improve the welfare of non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.
According to him, NASU remains committed to dialogue but expects fair treatment and equitable compensation that reflects the current economic realities facing workers.
Source: NAN
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