UNIBEN workers protesting
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
University of Benin (UNIBEN) workers on Wednesday, 9 November, 2021 joined their counterparts in other public Universities in Nigeria, to reject the Federal Government proposed sharing formula of the N22 billion earned allowances for teaching and non teaching Staff.
The workers under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU and Non Academic Staff Union, NASU took the decision at an emergency Congress of the Unions in the Institution.
They agreed to embark on a three-day protest to compel the federal government to revert its decision before the funds allocated to the earned allowances of the workers are disbursed.
Addressing newsmen after the Congress, the Chairman of UNIBEN SSANU/Joint Association Committee (JAC), Comrade Osewa Bedrocks, described the 75 percent share for teaching staff and 25 percent for non teaching Staff as proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), as provocative and unacceptable, adding that the plan does not reflect equity and justice.
He urged the federal government to suspend disbursement of the third tranche of the funds which started in June 2009 forthwith, pending the resolution of the issues at stake by readjusting the sharing formula.
Speaking at the handing over of a position paper to Prof. Lilian Salami, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) for onward transmission to the Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC), Osewa, sued for the sustenance of the cordial relationship that exist between the Unions and the management of the University.
Osewa also demanded the full payment of hazard allowance and earned arrears of the new minimum wage consequential adjustment which was approved in August 2021 in order to avert industrial action.
“From the reports that we have heard, the sharing formula that have been decided, 75 percent to teaching Staff while 25 percent is for non teaching Staff, which we have rejected totally; is provocative, unequitable and offensive. All of us cannot be in the same place here…we compliment one another. We are not talking about equality, but equity. So, we have totally rejected the offer.
“They should quickly readjust the sharing formula…Our people are hungry. We are not happy. If you want to get the best from a worker, he has to be fulfilled. Anytime the government make promises, they fail”, he said.
In a remark, the Chairman of NASU, UNIBEN Chapter, Anthony Igbinosa, described non compliance with agreements the federal government had reached with non teaching Staff as unfortunate and unacceptable.
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