CONUA Urges Government To Reconsider Pay Rise For University Lecturers....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

University lecturers, represented by the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), have urged the Federal Government to initiate a fresh effort to further increase their salaries. The call comes after the recent announcement by the government to implement a 35 percent and 23.5 percent salary increment for university lecturers.

In a statement issued by CONUA’s National President, Dr. ‘Niyi Sunmonu, and made available to the press through its National Secretary, Dr. Henry Oripeloye, CONUA revealed that the salary increment was proposed prior to the removal of fuel subsidies, which followed complaints from lecturers about the lack of salary increments over several years.

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CONUA commended the government’s move to address the issue of lecturers’ salaries, but emphasized the need for further salary adjustments to align with the current economic conditions in the country.

The statement from CONUA reads, “We have seen the memo from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on the implementation of 35% and 23.5% salary increment for staff of tertiary institutions. CONUA applauds the efforts of the present government for implementing this salary increment at this material time.”

“As a union, we also acknowledge the efforts of the former Minister of Labour, Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige, who discussed this matter with CONUA delegates on May 3, 2023, after the court sitting when CONUA delegates met with him to further discuss welfare, backlog of salaries, and other issues of the Union.”

“CONUA delegates then pressed the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment to raise that of the non-professorial cadre to 25%. After much discussion on the matter and others, the Minister promised to raise this with relevant organs of government, and that possibly, payment could commence in May 2023.”

“While appreciating the government for addressing the concerns of academics through this salary increase, we have observed that this increase was initiated before the removal of fuel subsidies. We will continue to engage with the government regarding post-subsidy removal salary increments for academic staff to align with the current economic realities.”

“Thus, we will persist in our discussions with the government as we advocate for improved salaries for lecturers in Nigerian universities, aiming to boost the morale of academics while also reducing the problem of brain drain from educational institutions.”