The non-academic workers in universities have said they may be forced to embark on an industrial action over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage in the university system.
The workers, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, said they were worried that despite the Federal Government and the organised labour concluding negotiations on the new minimum wage and the consequential adjustment, the workers had yet to be paid the new wage.
The SSANU, in a statement on Monday by its National Public Relations Officer, Salaam Abdussobur, said it was unfortunate that while workers in other sectors had started enjoying the new wage, university workers appeared to have been forgotten.
The union said, “As a consequence, our members are becoming increasingly restive and agitated over the obvious neglect of the university sector in the implementation of the national minimum wage act.
“We hereby draw the attention of the Federal Government and all relevant stakeholders to this delay and demand the implementation of the new wage regime and payment of its arrears without further delay.”
The union noted that it had been patient enough and shown understanding with the government, adding that an action must be taken soon.
“With the situation of things, it is becoming clearer to us that except an industrial action is undertaken, the new National minimum wage may never be implemented in the university system. We hereby sound a note of warning to ensure the immediate payment of the minimum wage in order to guarantee industrial peace in the university system,” the union added.
