The government had earlier objected to the payment of 25 percent to lecturers in the tertiary institutions when it raised those of Professors to 35 percent.
On Friday Guardian sighted a letter written by the Chairman of the NSIWC, Eyo Nta, which was addressed to the Minister of Education on September 14, 2023 tagged, ‘RE: Implementation of the 35 percent and 23.5 percent salary increment for staff of tertiary institutions,’ reads, “I refer to your letter No. FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.I/IT?/90 dated 8th September 2023 in respect of the above-subject. Find attached the circulars pertaining to the four salary structures in the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for your information (attached).
“The 23.5 percent earlier reflected in our letter SWC/S/04/S.149/I/59 of 28 July 2022 and stated in paragraph 2 of your letter, has been increased to 25 percent which accounted for the increased cost implications. This Commission is really pleased with the success your informal discussions have achieved. We shall endeavour to support all your efforts aimed at repositioning the education sector. Please accept the assurances of my warm regards.”
Following this, the commission proceeded to issue a circular also dated September 14, 2023 and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation among others informing them of the implementation of the newly reviewed salaries.
The circular reads, “The Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting having taken into consideration the various stages of collective bargaining in various sectors, and specifically engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Institutions-based Unions, and consequent upon the Federal Government’s approval, as well as 2023 budgetary provisions, approval is hereby conveyed for the revision of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary Structure for academic staff of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with effect from 1st January 2023.”
In its own Circular No: OAuGF/ SW/C/QP/1395/VOL.1/11, dated September 21, 2023, issued by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation to Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, the Auditor General said the implementation was approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting.
The decision was taken after “ taking into consideration various stages of collective bargaining,” the circular stated.
Recall that the former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu had insisted that the Federal Government could only afford a 23.5 per cent salary increase for all categories of the workforce in Federal Universities, except for people in the professorial cadre who would enjoy a 35 per cent upward review of their salaries.
Adamu had while addressing Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, in Abuja, early this year, disclosed that an agreement was reached with the ASUU members that henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services were rendered and to the staff who performed such services.