The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has called on the Federal Government to grant its members the same allowances approved for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), insisting that all university workers face identical economic challenges.
Newsonspot reports that the demand was made by NASU General Secretary, Mr. Peters Adeyemi, while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to Adeyemi, the union is seeking parity in allowances following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 percent increase in allowances for ASUU members. He argued that non-academic staff play indispensable roles in the administration and smooth functioning of universities and should therefore receive equal welfare benefits.
“We are demanding that whatever is given to ASUU should also be given to us because we face the same economic realities,” he said.
Adeyemi disclosed that NASU rejected an earlier government proposal of a 30 percent increase in allowances, maintaining that it was unfair compared to what was approved for ASUU.
“Government offered us 30 percent and we said no. Though they are our senior colleagues, we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel,” he stated.
He emphasized that landlords, transport operators, and service providers do not distinguish between academic and non-academic workers when determining the cost of rent or services.
“The cost of living affects all workers equally. We cannot accept a situation where one group receives significantly better allowances than another,” he added.
The NASU General Secretary revealed that negotiations with the Federal Government for the university sector have progressed considerably and are close to conclusion. He noted that the outcome of the talks would also influence similar negotiations covering polytechnics and colleges of education, where NASU equally represents workers.
“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 explained.
Adeyemi, however, expressed concern over what he described as the government’s delay in implementing agreements reached with labour unions, warning that such actions often trigger industrial disputes within tertiary institutions.
He stressed that genuine collective bargaining and faithful implementation of agreements are essential for industrial harmony in the education sector.
“When agreements are freely entered into, they should be implemented. Failure to do so only creates avoidable crises in the education sector,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Adeyemi expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations would produce positive outcomes that would improve the welfare of non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions. He reiterated NASU’s commitment to dialogue while insisting that its members deserve fair treatment and equitable compensation in line with prevailing economic realities.
