SSANU Kick Against Privitisation Of Staff Schools In Nigeria

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB) has staged a protest against the proposed government circular to remove University Staff Primary Schools from the nominal payrolls of the universities and government’s treasury.

Members of the union met at their secretariat located within the University Campus, where they held a congress before embarking on a peaceful protest to the University Senate building.

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities in Nigeria have continue to registered their displeasure against the planned removal of workers of various Staff Schools in the country from nominal pay roll of the universities and the government's treasury.

At the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, the situation is the same as members of the Senior Staff Association in the institution stage a peaceful protest against the government decision.

The members of the union abandoned their respective offices and duty posts, converged on their secretariat within te university from where they marched to the Senate Building of the university chanting various solidarity songs.]

The workers displayed placards with various inscriptions and sang solidarity songs to express their displeasure and disapproval for the action of the government on the matter and want the federal government to act fast.

Speaking during the protest, the National Vice President of SSANU, Comrade Alfred Jimoh, said implementation of the directive would translate into privitisation of the universities’ staff schools, and pose a threat to the jobs of the staff of the schools.

He added that the directive was a breach of the agreement between the Federal Government and SSANU in the past.

In his words, the Chairman of SSANU, FUNAAB Chapter, Abdul Sabur Salam said the intentions of government concerning university staff schools, was inconsistent with the mantra of the present government to create one million jobs.

He also criticised Prof. Julius Okojie and a Federal Ministry of Education’s official, Ebenezer Fayemi, as the perpetrators of the government plans which negate the 2009 agreement adding that, it the action is allow to materialised no fewer than 60 staff of the university ‎would be affected and over two thousand nationwide.

Sallam stated that rather than throwing those who are earning their income through legitimate means into the unemployment market, government should cut that the allowances and salaries of Senators and other elective officers in the country.

In his reaction, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Bamidele Oyewole appreciated the union for making the protest peaceful and assured them that he would deliver the complaint letter presented to him to the appropriate quarters.

The Protest by the Senior Staff Union Of Universities in the institution almost disrupt academic and other activities at the institution as the protesting workers carry their protest round the university.