SSANU Advises Extensive Consultations to Prevent Crisis in Education Sector

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to engage in extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders regarding the recently proposed 18-year age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, in order to prevent potential crises within the education sector.

SSANU expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing delay in the disbursement of four months' withheld salaries, which President Bola Tinubu had instructed to be paid to members approximately two months ago.

Additionally, the union has requested that the Federal Government expand the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to universities to facilitate transportation for both staff and students.

These points were highlighted in a communiqué released following the 49th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja over the weekend, which was signed by SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.

The association also called on the Federal Government to disburse the earned allowances owed to its members, noting that the 2023 budget allocated N50 billion for this purpose.

Regarding the 18-year benchmark recently announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, as the minimum age for admission eligibility starting in 2025, SSANU stated, “The NEC, in session, aligns itself with key stakeholders in the education sector in opposing the Federal Government's decision to set the age for students to take the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and gain admission into tertiary institutions at 18.

“Many stakeholders believe this policy will hinder progress in the education sector. In response to the Minister of Education's statement that from 2025, candidates under 18 will not be permitted to sit for the SSCE or the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB), the Government is urged to conduct the promised wide consultations on this critical issue to prevent a crisis in the sector.”

In addressing the issue of the four months’ unpaid salaries, the Union stated, “We acknowledge the Presidential directive regarding the release of the four months' salaries that have been withheld from SSANU and NASU members. However, we are perplexed that nearly two months have passed without our members receiving their payments. Therefore, the National Executive Council (NEC) urges the appropriate Government agencies to act on the President’s directive and ensure that our members are compensated for the four months of withheld salaries.”

Regarding the disbursement of earned allowances, the communiqué noted, “We recognize that N50 billion was allocated in the 2023 budget for this purpose. Consequently, the NEC calls upon the Government to conduct an investigation and urgently release the allocated funds for the payment of Earned Allowances to our members to prevent any potential industrial unrest within the education sector.”

During the session, the NEC expressed gratitude to the government for reconstituting the Committee tasked with renegotiating the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement and urged the government to promptly invite the union to participate in the renegotiation process.

On the transportation difficulties arising from the removal of the fuel subsidy, SSANU remarked, “The Union acknowledges that the Government has begun distributing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to various states across the country.”

The NEC convened for extensive discussions on the issue and concluded that it is essential to urge the Government to expand the distribution of buses to all universities, facilitating transportation for both staff and students.

However, it acknowledged that the elimination of the fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira have severely impacted the populace, leading to increased hardship and a rise in criminal activities.

Recently, various media sources have reported that a form of subsidy has been covertly reinstated. One would anticipate that this reintroduction would lead to a decrease in petrol prices, thereby lowering transportation costs and the prices of goods and services.

Regrettably, petrol and other petroleum product prices continue to soar, with some regions experiencing costs as high as N900 per liter or more. Our union members and the general public are struggling to afford basic necessities. Many individuals have had to stop using their vehicles as their limited incomes can no longer accommodate the added fuel expenses.

Consequently, the NEC urges the Government to take immediate action to restore local refineries, which is a crucial step towards addressing this persistent economic crisis.

The statement indicated that the union perceives the socio-economic turmoil in Nigeria as indicative of a state in decline, rather than one fostering peace and development.

It remarked, “A nation rich in human and material resources is mired in rampant corruption and significant mismanagement, which could lead to catastrophic failure if immediate action is not taken.

“The economy is severely weakened due to ineffective government policies, a high unemployment rate contributing to severe security issues such as kidnapping, banditry, youth-related fraud, inflation, deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, and other signs of a nation in distress.

“Consequently, the National Executive Council urges the Government to steer the nation towards recovery by implementing effective economic strategies, combating corruption, and creating job opportunities for the large youth population to prevent the country’s total disintegration.”

It also criticized what it termed the government’s suppression of protests, emphasizing that the right to protest is a fundamental entitlement of citizens worldwide.

It Is unprecedented in any democratic society for the government, through its agencies, to suppress legitimate and peaceful protests by its citizens, particularly in times of evident hardship caused by poor governance.

A pertinent example is the treatment of members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) during their peaceful demonstration in Abuja, where they faced harassment and intimidation at their gathering point at the Unity Fountain.

The National Executive Council (NEC), in its session, strongly condemns the unjust arrests and even fatalities of peaceful protesters advocating against poor governance in the nation. It expressed disapproval of the excessive force used by Nigerian law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, against demonstrators, even after they had secured permission from the police.

Consequently, the NEC has issued a warning to various law enforcement bodies, especially the police, urging them to refrain from such inhumane and undemocratic actions and to conduct their duties with professionalism to avoid exacerbating the already volatile situation in the country.