FG Considers Paying Half Salaries To Non-Teaching University Staff

• Federal Government Mulls Half-Pay for Non-Academic Staff
• Minister Seeks President’s Approval for Partial Salary Release
• Move Aims to Address Grievances of SSANU, NASU Members

Eko Hot Blog reports that amidst the ongoing dispute with non-teaching staff unions in universities, the Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, has revealed that the Federal Government is weighing the option of paying half of the withheld salaries to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), subject to President Bola Tinubu’s approval.

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During an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Mamman disclosed that efforts are underway to secure the release of half of the withheld salaries. “We are on it, and we are pushing,” he stated, acknowledging the need to address the concerns of the non-academic staff.

The minister clarified that while the decision to partially pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was a specific directive from the President, it did not automatically extend to other unions. “No, it has not been approved,” Mamman said, referring to the payment for NASU and SSANU members.

However, he emphasized that since these unions were not on strike for the same duration as ASUU, they might receive only half of the payment if the President decides to extend a similar gesture to them. “We are pushing,” Mamman reiterated, signaling the government’s willingness to resolve the impasse.

Addressing allegations of discrimination against non-academic staff, the minister refuted such claims, attributing the oversight to a communication issue rather than intentional exclusion.

The proposed partial salary payment is seen as an olive branch extended by the Federal Government to SSANU and NASU, whose members embarked on a warning strike in March to protest the withholding of their salaries while ASUU members received partial payments.

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As negotiations continue, stakeholders hope that this conciliatory move will pave the way for a resolution, ensuring the smooth functioning of universities and addressing the grievances of the non-teaching staff.

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