FUTA SSANU Opposes Unfair ₦50bn Earned Allowance Allocation, Calls for Fairness

The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has voiced strong opposition to an alleged plan to unevenly distribute the ₦50 billion recently released as earned allowance among various university unions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the branch chairman, Comrade Felix Adunbi, the union conveyed its deep concern over what it referred to as a continuous trend of unjust treatment and exclusion of non-academic unions within Nigeria’s university system.

Reports indicate that the federal government is preparing to give 80% of the ₦50 billion allowance to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), with the remaining 20% to be shared among SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

“This is not just an assault on the collective psyche of members of the other unions but an exemplification of lack of equity, fairness and justice,” the statement read. “It should not be allowed to stand.”

FUTA SSANU stated that this kind of lopsided allocation threatens the spirit of unity and mutual respect among university staff, adding that it could disrupt the current industrial peace on campuses.

The union said it “aligns itself with the mother union and other men and women of goodwill who are calling for equitable sharing of the earned allowance among all the unions in the system.”

“This is the only way the prevailing harmony can and will be sustained,” Adunbi asserted, reiterating that all unions are equal stakeholders in the university system and deserve to be treated as such.

FUTA SSANU ended its statement by clearly rejecting any move to deny its members their fair share and pledged to oppose any future acts of discrimination.

“All unions and their members are equal stakeholders and should be so treated at all times,” the statement added.

This dispute over the distribution of earned allowances is unfolding as university unions nationwide closely monitor the federal government’s compliance with previously agreed terms following past industrial disputes.

There are now increasing demands from stakeholders for a just and open distribution process to avoid the risk of renewed tensions in the university system.