Non-Teaching Staff in UNN protest over unpaid wages, allowances

On Thursday, the non-teaching staff in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) under the aegis of Joint Action Committe (JAC) staged a peaceful protest demanding arrears of minimum wage and earned allowances.

The UNN-JAC threatened to shut down UNN by embarking on an indefinite strike after Nov. 15, if their members failed to receive their pay.

UNN-JAC comprised Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).

While briefing newsmen after the protest, the chairman of the committee, Mr Paul Erua said the three-day nationwide protest that started on Wednesday was in compliance with the directive from National Executive of JAC.

Paul added that it was as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to pay members arrears of minimum wage and earned allowances after series of promises.

In his words:

“If after Nov. 15 our arrears of minimum wage and earned allowances are not paid by government JAC will embark on indefinite strike that will paralyse both academic and administrative activities in UNN.

“It’s unfortunate that government’s series of promises to JAC national executives on the payment of arrears of minimum wage and earned allowances owed to members have not been redeemed,”

“A situation in the past where government gives 75 per cent of earned allowance released to teaching staff and 25 per cent to non teaching staff is unfair and will no longer be accepted.

“Any earned allowance released by government for public university staff should be shared 50:50 between teaching staff and non teaching staff, in the interest of fairness and equity,” he said