Varsity workers demand full implementation of 2009 agreement

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities has urged the Federal Government to ensure full implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Chairman, JAC, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, said this at a mega protest organised by the unions to express their grievances yesterday in Abuja.

The unions operating under JAC comprise Non-Academic Staff Unions of Nigerian Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The aggrieved workers according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) carried placards with inscriptions such as “Government must respect agreement,’’ “Government must respect Court Order,’’ Impunity breeds anarchy, stop it in our universities,’’ among others.

Ugwoke said that reneging on the implementation of the 2009 agreement and other Memorandum of Understanding signed with the unions was affecting the effective operation of the university system.

He noted that the unions had held several meetings with the Federal Government with no tangible results.

“We deem it imperative to draw your attention to the ongoing strike embarked upon by the non-teaching staff unions based on our demands for the full implementation of our 2009 agreement.’’

Earlier, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, said the protest had become necessary due to the unkept promises of the Federal Government.

Responding, the Director, Tertiary Education in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Joel Ojo, said that efforts were ongoing to ensure that issues affecting the university system were speedily resolved.

Ojo said the ministry was interfacing with the National Assembly and that modalities were being worked out to resolve the ongoing strike and ensure that normalcy returned to the universities.

Similarly, Senator Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, who represented Senate President Bukola Saraki, said that the challenges affecting the workers had been noted.

“So I want to assure you that every worker will get his allowances; other demands that you have made will be tabled before the house,” he said.

Also, Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, assured the workers that NASS would resolve the issues.