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FG writes SSANU over 2009 agreement• Says Jonathan will assent bill before end of February
Written by Soji-Eze Fagbemi Tuesday, 07 February 2012
THE Federal Government has written the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) over
the 2009 FGN/SSANU agreement and assured that President Goodluck Jonathan will sign the harmonised bill on the Amendment of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993, before the end of February, 2012.
The Federal Government also assured the SSANU members that the request that the rule requiring an officer to retire after 35 years of service shall not apply to university staff.
The letter from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education with Reference Number FME/TE/SS.IM/C.4/VOL.11/161, dated 26th January, 2012 was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Professor Nicholas Damachi.
It was addressed to the Presidents, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT); Non-Academic Staff Union of Education & Associated Institutions (NASU); and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
In the letter, titled: “Meeting of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with the Joint Action Committee of the NAAT, NASU, and SSANU,” Professor Nicholas Damachi said: “Following a meeting on the 25th of January 2012, held at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with the Minister of Education, Minister of Labour and Productivity and the executive members of the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU to discuss the pending issues on the implementation of the FGN/Non-teaching Staff Unions 2009 agreement as it affects the following issues: 65 years retirement age; improvement in the funding levels of universities; earned allowances and career structure for technologists, I am directed to convey to you government’s position on the issues raised.”
On the 65 years retirement age, he said; “The Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour and Productivity will liaise with the National Assembly before the harmonisation of the two versions of the Amendment of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993, to request that the rule requiring an officer to retire after 35 years of service shall not apply to university staff. The president shall assent to this bill not later than the end of February 2012.”
On the improvement in the funding levels of universities, the permanent secretary said the government “reaffirms its commitment to the revitalisation of Nigerian universities through budgetary and non-budgetary sources of funds,” adding, “all funding shall be appropriately channelled to enable the university system become self- sustaining.”
He said: “Government will immediately stimulate the process with the sum of one hundred billion naira and will build this up to a yearly sum of 400 billion naira in the next three years. These interventions will be based on identified prioritised needs.”
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