The Federal Government has successfully concluded the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), ending months of negotiations over the conditions of service for non-teaching university workers.

The breakthrough was reached on Monday after a prolonged meeting between the Federal Government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee and the leadership of the three unions at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.

Confirming the development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the National President of SSANU and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said the renegotiation had been concluded and an agreement reached.

“I can confirm that the renegotiation has been concluded today and an agreement has been reached. We will communicate the details after briefing the unions,” Ibrahim said.

Although he declined to disclose the details immediately, explaining that the leadership of the three unions would first brief their respective organs before making the contents public, he confirmed that the negotiation process had formally ended.

However, a highly placed source at the NUC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the outcome of the meeting, told our correspondent that the unions accepted a 35 per cent salary increase after the Federal Government appealed for understanding over its fiscal constraints.

According to the source, government officials explained that prevailing economic realities made it impossible to extend the 40 per cent salary increase earlier approved for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the non-teaching unions.

“The unions initially sought parity with ASUU’s 40 per cent increase, but government explained its financial constraints and appealed for understanding. After extensive deliberations, the parties agreed on a 35 per cent salary increase,” the source disclosed.

The agreement brings to an end a protracted renegotiation process that had generated industrial tension within Nigeria’s public university system.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU, NASU, and NAAT had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction over delays in concluding the review of the 2009 agreement and had threatened industrial action if the process was not finalised. The unions had maintained that while the Federal Government concluded negotiations with ASUU, non-teaching university workers also deserved improved remuneration and conditions of service.

The Federal Government had earlier concluded a separate renegotiation with ASUU, approving a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff. The outcome of Monday’s meeting effectively concludes the renegotiation process for the three non-teaching university unions.

Further details of the agreement are expected to be released after the leadership of SSANU, NASU and NAAT conclude consultations with their respective organs. (Nigerian Tribune)

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