CONUA commends FG, demands more

Congress of Nigerian University Academics has commended the Federal Government for 35 per cent and 23.5 per cent salary increments for staff of tertiary institutions in the country.

The group however said the increment was done before the removal of the subsidy on fuel, stressing that, it would continue to engage the government on post-subsidy removal increment in salaries.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by the CONUA National President, Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu, the group recalled a discussion the former Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige had with CONUA delegates on May 3, 2023, after a court sitting.

The CONUA delegates had during the meeting discussed welfare, the backlog of salaries, and other issues affecting members of the Union.

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The statement read partly, “In the meeting, CONUA delegates lamented the stagnation of salaries and in the response of the immediate past Minister, he said the only offer on the table and which the government is committed to paying is the offer announced by the immediate past Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu announced in September 2022 in the State House.

“CONUA delegates then pressed the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment to raise that of the non-professorial cadre to 25%. After much discussion on the matter and others, the Minister promised to raise this with relevant organs of government, and that possibly, payment could commence in May 2023.

“While appreciating the government for looking at the direction of academics for this award, we have noticed that this award was done before the removal of subsidy and we will continue to interact with the government on post-subsidy removal increment of academic salaries to meet with the present economic realities.

“Therefore we will continue to engage the government as we advocate for a better salary for lecturers in the Nigerian universities to boost the morale of academics while at the same time reducing the scourge of brain drain from the institutions.”