The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct timely payment of its withheld four-month salary arrears.
Hassan Makolo, NASU’s national president, made the request at an emergency meeting of NASU branch chairmen and Inter-University Centres in Abuja on Monday.
Mr Makolo stated that the appeal was necessary to maintain industrial peace in the sector.
Remember that Mr Tinubu issued a direction that the withheld salaries of unions that went on strike during the previous regime be paid.
According to him, it is no longer news that other union members have received their four-month withheld salaries.
“We went on strike that was forced on us by the government and we followed all due process.
“We signed an Memorandum of Action (MoA) where it was agreed that no one will be victimised.
“But no payment of the four months salaries arrears to us is victimisation.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to the appropriate government agencies that our four months withheld salaries should be paid to allow industrial peace and harmony,” he said.
Mr Makolo, however, urged the branch chairmen and others to stand for what was just and ensure none of their members was shortchanged.
Also, Peters Adeyemi, general secretary of NASU expressed shock that NASU members were yet to be paid the four mothers withheld salaries arrears while some other unions have been paid full.
According to Mr Adeyemi, this meeting is convened so that industrial harmony and stability that had been witnessed since the advent of this new government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu can be sustained.
“It was shocking that just a few weeks ago; we were informed that the office of the Chief of Staff gave approval to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“To go ahead and pay the four months’ salaries to one of the unions in the universities.
“We asked ourselves if there was a contradiction in the pronunciation of the government and its functionaries, is it what it is supposed to be?
“Comrades, if there is any union and its members that deserve to be paid first it should be members of NASU,”he said.
He explained that NASU had an agreement with government that was treated appropriately and with a clause of no victimisation.
“No victimisation means nothing will be denied of our members. The idea of the same government coming to say no work no pay was injustice at the highest order.
“We appreciate the present government for making the pronouncement that these salaries will be paid.
“But we are confused as to why up till this moment NASU members have not been paid their four months withheld salaries.
“This meeting is to call on the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct without any further delay the payment of our four months withheld outstanding salaries.
“We are not unmindful of the problems that this government is confronting but if this money is not paid in the next one or two weeks we are going to shut down,”he said.