Universities, hospitals staff threaten industrial action over minimum wage, others

The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions on Tuesday threatened to commence industrial actions.

They said they take the action, if the Federal Government fails to implement the judgment of National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Scale.

While calling for “the total review of Pension Reform Act 2014, to allow retirees access their lump sum (100 per cent) as well as prompt payment on retirement”, the organisation demanded “the immediate implementation of National Minimum Wage of N30,000 across the board without further delay to ensure industrial harmony.”

In a communique signed by the acting President of SSAUTHRIAI, Benjamin Akintola and General Secretary, Moshood Akinade, and made available to newsmen after its National Executive Council meeting at Ibadan, the group said it was ready to ‘fight tooth and nail’ over the matter.

The workers lamented that despite the July 22 2013 judgment of NICN on the skipping of CONRAISS 10, the management of some research institutes were yet to comply.

Read also: Crisis averted in Imo community as herdsman stabs colleague, steals cows

According to them, the agencies which refused to comply, according to SSAUTHRIA, include the National Atomic Energy Commission in Abuja; National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency in Kaduna and National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation in llorin.

The communique reads further that “The council-in-session observes that despite the NICN judgment of July 22 2013 on the skipping of CONRAISS 10, the management of some research institutes such as NAEC, NSRMEA and NCAM, among others, are yet to comply.

“We therefore call for the implementation of the judgment for research institutes and to pay arrears, failing which the affected institutes will be directed to embark on immediate strike.

“The council-in-session condemns in totality, insecurity resulting in kidnapping and killings of innocent Nigerians. It, therefore, urges Mr. President to ensure that no stone is left unturned to ensure security, peace and stability in the country.”

The union also demanded from the Federal Government the implementation of agreements reached with the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Unions and Joint Health Sector Unions.

They included payment of 12 months arrears of 53.37 per cent salary increase (July 2009 – June 2010) and release of the conditions and scheme of service for federal research institutes, projects and federal colleges of agriculture and submitted to the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, since February 2014.

Others demands included increased funding of research institutes; implementation of Alternative Dispute Resolution consent; payment of withheld April and May 2018 salaries of members; adjustment of CONHESS salary structure and retirement age at 65 years.

SSAUTHRIAI also called on the Federal Government to review the Act establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to include Colleges of Agriculture and also to re-classify Colleges of Agriculture as Polytechnics, instead of their wrongful classification as Monotechnics by the National Board for Technical Education.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now