Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, stated Wednesday that the Federal Government is working relentlessly to satisfy university-based unions’ pending requests. He urged the unions to engage in negotiations rather than conflict.
The minister stated that negotiations are more effective than closing the institutions.
Mamman spoke at the fifth delegates’ conference of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), which was held yesterday at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) under the theme Technology, A Recipe for National Development and Socioeconomic Growth in the 21st Century: The Nigeria Quest for A Better Tomorrow.
Some of the demands of the unions are: the need for the government to pay their withheld salaries during the last strike, non-implementation of the increase in salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, lack of progress in the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the unions, among others.
Mamman said: “On our part (as government), in the area of supporting growth and development and welfare, this government is determined to ensure that you are properly supported in all aspects. That is why this government took the decision to take university workers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
“On the payment of your enhanced percentage – 25 per cent and 35 per cent – we are working on it. We are also working on other things which are outstanding. Everything that is outstanding, we are working on it.
“We are doing this because we have a President in Nigeria who walks his talks. Once he makes a commitment, you can take it to the bank.
“So, I urge you to continue on the course of negotiations and back-door conversations. They are very effective. It is much more effective than confrontation; much more effective than shutting the institutions.”
