The National Assembly, yesterday, promised to look into the allegations of corruption in the Nigerian universities in order to sanitise the system.
This is as non-teaching staff in the universities under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee (JAC) accused the university administrations of indulging in corrupt practices while the government appears not to be disturbed with the ugly situation despite the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has accused the Federal Government of always breaching agreements it freely entered into with workers.
JAC comprising the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Educational Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), staged a protest at the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly over the alleged decay in the universities.
Security operatives had a hectic day at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, when they tried to stop the protesting university non-teaching staff to have access to the Ministry of Education where they had gone to register their protest with the Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu.
The protesting workers had to use all their strength to force the gate that was locked with heavy presence of the policemen to open for the workers led by the National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the Chairman of JAC, Comrade Samson Ugwoke to gain access to the ministry.
Infuriated by the development, the workers chanted anti Adamu songs and even called for his resignation.
At the National Assembly, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki represented by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim from Yobe East, assured the protesting workers that the National Assembly would look into their grievances, especially the allegation of corruption in the universities.
“I also want to assure that every worker will get its allowances. All the demands that you have made will be tabled before the House.”
Also speaking, Senator Sani Shehu, assured the non academic teaching staff that in the name of the struggle and in the name of the Nigerian people that he will peruse their demand to logical conclusion.”
Presenting their grievances, the Chairman of JAC and National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke said, “We need to let the National Assembly know why we are sad. We need to let them know and sensitize them on the injustices that are going on in the university system.
“We need to let them know the plight of the Nigerian universities, and also workers in the system. We want them to come in and investigate the universities and find out why our graduates are not employable. We are not pleased with the state of affairs and strongly believe that with your intervention, all matters that led to the current industrial action of the Joint Action Committee unions shall be addressed.
“We also deem it imperative to humbly draw the attention of His Excellency to the ongoing strike embarked upon by the non-teaching staff unions based on our demands for the full proper implementation of our 2009 agreement. We have also had several meetings with the Federal Government.
“The specific issues are: One, the reinstatement of our members in the university staff schools, who were removed from the budget of the universities based on obnoxious budget call circular from National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in gross contravention of the 2009 agreement with Federal Government which also the National Industrial Court has ruled in our favour.
“Two, the issue of payment of Earned Allowances where a sum of N23billion released by government in September, 2017, was skewed in favour of a sister union by some government officers thereby leaving 11 percent of the said amount to the non teaching staff.
“Three, the issue of shortfalls in salary payment where our members have been receiving fractions of their salaries for upward of a year now.
Four, the issue of career progression for Technologists to CONTISS 14 and 15, in line with the agreement reached with NAAT.