No going back on April 30 deadline, FUTA SSANU tells FG

The Federal University of Technology, Akure branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) stands firm on its April 30 deadline for the Federal Government to conclude renegotiations concerning staff welfare and emoluments. This stance underscores a persistent tension between university workers and the government over fair compensation and working conditions.

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We have started this renegotiation long ago and we are asking government to, as a matter of urgency, conclude this renegotiation and let us have an agreement that we can work with.

Felix Adumbi, the FUTA branch chairman, articulated the association's resolve, emphasizing that the ongoing renegotiations, initiated in 2022, must reach a conclusive agreement. The recent government approval of a 30% salary increase for non-academic staff has been met with strong opposition, as unions like SSANU and NASU view it as a unilateral decision that bypasses the ongoing negotiation process.

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The renegotiation is dated back to as far back as 2022, but when government showed commitment in the last October.

The unions' rejection of the circular highlights a lack of trust and communication between the government and its employees. The threat of a nationwide shutdown of public universities serves as a stark reminder of the critical role these non-academic staff play and their willingness to disrupt operations to achieve their demands. This situation reflects a broader pattern of industrial disputes in Nigeria's tertiary education sector, where unresolved agreements often lead to strikes.

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So, since that time, there has been consistency in the renegotiation process, but we are saying that they should conclude this agreement in good time.