SSANU and NASU Condemn New Renegotiation Committee as “Charade”
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) has expressed strong disapproval of the Federal Government’s recent inauguration of a renegotiation committee.
In a joint statement by SSANU President ,Muhammed Ibrahim and NASU President, Peters Adeyemi, the unions criticized the event as a “charade” that marginalizes their concerns.
They pointed out that the Minister of Education’s address during the inauguration heavily favored ASUU, with minimal mention of the other unions involved as this has raised concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the renegotiation process.
This inauguration marks the fourth renegotiation committee established since 2017, following previous committees led by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jubril, and Nimi Briggs. Despite ongoing discussions, previous negotiations have not produced lasting results, contributing to the frustration expressed by both associations.
They noted that during the event, ASUU’s president was given a prominent position while leaders from the other unions were relegated to less significant roles.
The unions voiced fears that the renegotiation could disproportionately favor academic staff, undermining the rights of non-teaching personnel. They condemned the perceived bias and called out the government for allowing ASUU to represent all unions without consultation. Concluding their statement, SSANU and NASU rejected the inauguration process, emphasizing that it highlights a clear imbalance that threatens the interests of non-teaching workers.
