The Joint Union of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions (JUNSTI) on Tuesday decried an alleged non-payment of 10 years retirement benefits to its members by the state government.

The Chairman of the union, Mr. Samuel Bashayi said this when members of the union appeared before the state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology in Lafia.

He said that non-payment of the retirement benefits to its members had affected their lives and their families negatively, hence the need for the assembly to intervene, to improve on their standard of living.

“Our honorable members, we are here to present to you our demands as well as the numerous challenges affecting members of Joint Union of Tertiary Institution in the state so as to improve on the standard of education in the state and the country at large.

“For the past ten years, there is non-payment of retirement benefits to our members who have retired after they contributed positively to the development of the state and the country at large.

“Apart from that, there is backlog of promotions on ground for several years, non-accreditation of some courses, under staffing in most of all the higher institutions.

“For example, the staff strength has continued to drop due to retirement and there is no employment.

“We also want the state government to grant us autonomy because if we are autonomous it would go a long way in addressing the problems and challenges confronting us as well as improving the standard of education in the state.

“The autonomy of higher institutions would also give them the right to organise convocation as at when due, ensure timely accreditation of courses, prompt promotion of its workers and ensure improved welfare package to its members.”

He also appealed to the government to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65 years to enable the members to contribute positively to the development of the state, considering the importance of education to the society.

The chairman restated the commitment of the union to support government efforts in improving the standard of education.

Responding, the Chairman of the house committee, Mr. Daniel Oga-Ogazi, said the assembly decided to invite relevant stakeholders in the sector to improve the standard of education.

“We heard all of your problems and challenges; we promise you of our collaboration with you, other stakeholders and the state government to see how to address these problems because no society will achieve meaningful progress without sound education.”' (NAN)

•Photo shows Pensioners