Mr Ibrahim noted that the delay in paying the outstanding N50 billion earned allowance was long overdue. The union also demanded the immediate commencement and conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 federal government-SSANU agreement without further delay.
In addition, the union called for the payment of the new national minimum wage arrears for some of its members who either have been paid or are not fully paid. Mr Ibrahim worried about the usurpation of universities’ governing council powers and functions. According to him, the council is the highest and final decision-making organ in any university, and some overzealous agents are trying to truncate this process.
Furthermore, Mr Ibrahim said councils of universities should be allowed to do their work without interference from the office of the head of the service or any external agents. He added that NEC is poised to take all legal means to ensure its members are not subjected to obnoxious policies.
SSANU also decried the unwarranted pump price increase and deliberate petrol hoarding, noting that the avoidable situation had plunged Nigerians into a precarious economic situation. The union urged the government to take necessary actions to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
The NEC also resolved that the union should begin a nationwide sensitization campaign on its charter of demands, including the need for the federal government to address the alleged lopsidedness in appointing vice-chancellors and rectors in the country.
SSANU further called on the government to urgently address the issue of insecurity, which has affected education in the country, by providing adequate security for students and staff. The union urged the government to adopt UN Recommendation 345 on the safety of journalists and other media workers and students and staff on campuses.
The union also decried the sacking of workers by some university management without due process and urged the government to ensure that such acts are not repeated. SSANU also demanded the immediate recall of all sacked workers and urged the government to set up an investigative panel to look into the illegal activities of the university management.
The union further urged the government to pay the full entitlements of disengaged staff of some universities, including those of the University of Ilorin, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The union called on the government to address the decayed infrastructure in universities and provide adequate funding for research and development.