2009 Agreement: SSANU Demands Immediate Resumption Of Negotiation

Following the 42nd Regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the union has requested the resumption and conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FG-SSANU Agreement.

SSANU in a communique issued at the end of the NEC meeting held at the University of Calabar, Cross River State and signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.

The report expressed dissatisfaction with the government's position on the renegotiation which is overdue by 12 years.

“NEC in session is deeply peeved by the nonchalant and detached attitude of the Federal Government towards the long-standing issue of renegotiating the 2009 Agreement. Renegotiation of the Agreement is overdue by 12 years.

“This is against the statutory three (3) years agreed for periodic review. It is most disheartening and appalling the way Federal Government is handling the issue.

"We are seriously disturbed by Government’s reluctance, despite SSANU’s readiness in ensuring that this matter is urgently concluded. Since Prof. Nimi D. Brigg’s Committee was constituted, SSANU has earnestly offered itself for the renegotiation process.

“NEC therefore, demands the immediate resumption and conclusion of this exercise without any further delay as the content of the current Agreement has been eroded by the harsh economic situation occasioned by hyperinflation and its effect on workers,” the communique read.

On the issue of the IPPIS, "It said that the plethora of problems associated with the IPPIS payment platform has left many SSANU members devastated because of the recurrent disturbing haphazard salary payment, leaving many with inexplicable wages as monthly salaries.

“The quest for a solution to these problems has remained elusive and difficult, while Federal  Government has remained adamant in insisting that it would use only IPPIS in payment of staff salaries.

“It is on record that the payment platform is fraught with the same corruption that Federal Government claims it wants to fight.

"It is also on record that the platform developed by JAC of SSANU and NASU (U3PS) is capable of addressing the issues we regularly complain of.

“NEC in session, therefore, urges the Federal Government to utilize the U3PS platform since IPPIS has continually failed to address the payment issues of university workers.”