By DAYO ADESULU
Urgent Call for Government Action Following Recent NEC Meeting
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) recently convened its 2024 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where key stakeholders in education, health, and trade unions gathered to address pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector. The meeting highlighted critical issues such as funding crises, infrastructure decay, and staff welfare.
Funding Crisis Hindering Educational Mandates
During the meeting, NASU President Dr. Makolo Hassan emphasized the severe impact of inadequate funding on the education sector. He stated, “The lack of adequate funding has severely hindered the fulfillment of institutions’ mandates, including providing quality education, fostering research, and promoting innovation.” He pointed out that insufficient financial resources restrict schools and tertiary institutions from investing in essential infrastructure, modern technology, and learning materials critical for effective education and research.
Dr. Hassan further elaborated on how this funding gap adversely affects staff welfare, leading to poor remuneration, delayed salaries, and limited professional development opportunities. “Consequently, low morale among workers often translates to reduced productivity and commitment, undermining the overall quality of education,” he noted.
Legislative Support Needed for Improved Funding
The NASU President acknowledged the Senate’s recent call for improved university funding, following a motion sponsored by Senator Anthony Ani. While commending this initiative, he urged the National Assembly to take tangible steps beyond mere motions. Dr. Hassan called on lawmakers to leverage their constitutional authority during the approval of annual budgets to ensure meaningful and sustained funding improvements for tertiary institutions.
Non-Implementation of Agreements and Industrial Relations Crises
A significant concern raised during the meeting was the Federal Government’s failure to adhere to best industrial relations practices, particularly regarding the non-implementation of agreements with unions in the education sector. Dr. Hassan stated that this disregard for established agreements has exacerbated ongoing industrial relations crises, undermining the sector’s ability to provide quality education.
He highlighted the long-standing issue of the non-conclusion of renegotiations for Collective Agreements signed in 2009 for universities and 2010 for polytechnics and colleges of education. “This has left NASU members frustrated as critical aspects of their welfare and working conditions remain unresolved for over a decade,” he lamented.
Unpaid Salaries and Government Directives
Dr. Hassan expressed discontent over the Federal Government’s failure to resolve the issue of four months of unpaid salaries for NASU members in universities and inter-university centers. He revealed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the payment of 50% of the unpaid salary, yet implementation has stalled. He appealed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to expedite the directive to prevent further industrial crises.
Addressing Memoranda of Agreement and Other Challenges
The NASU meeting also addressed various Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that the Federal Government has entered into with the union. Dr. Hassan called for swift action on issues such as the renegotiation of the FGN/NASU 2009 Agreement, payment of earned allowances, and addressing inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
He pointed out that polytechnics and colleges of education face similar challenges, including the payment of promotion arrears and the need for additional funding. He stressed the importance of extending benefits and incentives, such as the newly approved minimum wage and retirement age adjustments, to non-teaching staff who play critical roles in the education sector.
Conclusion
The NASU NEC meeting underscored the urgent need for government intervention to address the funding crisis and welfare issues affecting non-academic staff in Nigeria’s education sector. By tackling these challenges, the government can enhance the quality of education and create a more stable and supportive environment for both staff and students.