More flak has come the way of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), on Thursday protested the removal of staff of university Staff Primary Schools from universities' payrolls.
Over 200 placard carrying protesters, made up of university staff from Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka (UNIZIK), Ebonyi State University, Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State University and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), partook in the protest.
They called on the Federal Government to resolve the misunderstanding over staff of university primary schools or face possible nationwide strike.
SSANU South-East zonal Vice-President, Leku Ador told journalists that the union will disrupt the system if the issues remain unresolved.
"Any attempt to remove university staff primary schools from the pay roll of universities shall definitely throw the hitherto peaceful university system in Nigeria to another round of avoidable labour crisis," Ador said.
“National executives of SSANU during its meeting on June 6, described attempt to remove university staff primary schools from university payroll as repugnant, in bad taste and offensive to the establishment of universities.
“The implementation of such directive will not only run contrary to the creation of universities but will undermine the prevailing industrial peace in universities in the country."
Speaking on behalf of SSANU National chairman, Samson Ugwuoke, Ador reiterated the union's call for Okojie removal for his perceived role in the matter.
“SSANU wishes to reiterate its earlier call for the removal of Prof Julius Okojie, NUC chairman as well as thorough investigations of Mr Ebenzer of federal ministry of education and Chief R.O Egbule of National Salaries and Wages Commission for their roles in this matter”
He noted that other government agencies run schools with budgeted funds.
“Evidence abounds that ministry of defense still fund the capital and recurrent cost of over hundred army children schools, command schools, Air force and Navy primary schools, while ministry of police affairs funds police children and secondary schools from the treasury," he added.
“One, therefore, wonders the basis of focusing attention on only twenty four university staff primary schools in the country."
The union asked the government to respect 2008 FGN/SSANU agreement where it was stated that universities should bear full capital and recurrent costs of staff primary schools.