The Federal Government has been advised by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) to expeditiously resolve the impasse surrounding the imposition of a new minimum wage for workers in the nation.
Giving the counsel, Kazeem Suarau, the chairman of Federal University, Lokoja (FUL), was presented with an award or recommendation letter from the Center for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO).
Suarau claimed that the nation’s current economic crisis had made the suffering of the majority of people worse, necessitating an early end to the impasse in order to set a new minimum wage that would be acceptable.
“The current delay in the implementation of the minimum wage has negatively impacted on the livelihood of millions of hardworking Nigerians, who struggle daily to make ends meet.
“As prices of essential goods and services continue to rise, the purchasing power of ordinary citizens has dwindled, further deepening poverty and inequality in the country.
“It is crucial to recognise that an adequate minimum wage is not just a matter of economic policy but a fundamental human rights issue.
“It ensures that workers and their families can afford basic necessities and live decent lives, which directly impacts their well-being and dignity.
“Therefore, I urge the government to prioritise and expedite the process of implementing a revised minimum wage that reflects current economic realities.
“This action will not only alleviate the sufferings of the masses but also stimulate economic growth by boosting consumer spending and overall productivity,” Suarau said.
He said that SSANU FUL members would join their non-academic colleagues nationwide to stage a protest on July 9 over the nonpayment of their withheld four months salary.
According to him, we are compelled to announce that protests will be held on all university campuses next Tuesday, July 9.
He said that despite the approval by President Bola Tinubu for the release of the withheld salaries and assurances to promptly pay, SSANU/NASU members had yet to be paid to date.
“Our National Executive has engaged in multiple discussions with the Ministers of Education and Labour as well as the Senate and House of Representatives Education Committees, to address this pressing issue.
“Regrettably, despite these engagements and assurances, there has been no tangible progress in fulfilling the government’s commitment to remunerate non-teaching members,” he said.
Saurau thanked CESVO for determining that he and the other SSANU, FUL branch executive members were deserving of the award and letters of commendation.
Salihu Yakubu, the Executive Director of CESVO, had earlier stated that the organization was committed to fighting corruption and advancing accountability and transparency in the nation while presenting the award to Suarau.
Yakubu stated that the award and letters of commendation were given in honor of SSANU FUL’s leadership qualities and applauded the agility with which the union’s operations were being managed for the benefit of its members.
