The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has intensified its call for equal welfare benefits with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), insisting that non-academic workers deserve the same allowances approved for academic staff.
NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, made the union’s position known while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference.
Adeyemi said the union is seeking parity in allowances following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent increase for ASUU members, arguing that non-academic staff face the same economic challenges as their academic counterparts.
“We are demanding that whatever is given to ASUU should also be given to us because we face the same economic realities,” he said.
According to him, NASU members play critical roles in the smooth operation of universities and should not be sidelined in the distribution of welfare benefits and negotiated entitlements.
The union leader revealed that NASU had already rejected a Federal Government proposal offering a 30 per cent increase in allowances, maintaining that it falls short of the benefits granted to ASUU.
“The government offered us 30 per cent, and we said no. Though they are our senior colleagues, we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel,” Adeyemi stated.
He stressed that landlords, transport operators, and service providers do not distinguish between academic and non-academic workers when determining rents and charges.
“The cost of living affects all workers equally. We cannot accept a situation where one group receives significantly better allowances than another,” he added.
Adeyemi disclosed that negotiations between NASU and the Federal Government have made significant progress and are nearing completion in the university sector.
He explained that the outcome of the university discussions would likely shape similar negotiations in polytechnics and colleges of education, where NASU also represents workers.
“We are almost reaching the end of the renegotiation process for universities. Once we conclude that, the other sectors may not be as difficult,” he said.
The NASU secretary also accused the government of delaying the implementation of agreements reached with labour unions, warning that such actions often trigger industrial disputes across tertiary institutions.
He emphasized that genuine collective bargaining remains vital for maintaining industrial peace and urged government representatives to honour agreements reached through negotiations.
“When agreements are freely entered into, they should be implemented. Failure to do so only creates avoidable crises in the education sector,” he noted.
Expressing optimism about the ongoing discussions, Adeyemi said NASU remains committed to dialogue but expects fair treatment and equitable compensation for its members in line with current economic realities.
The union hopes the negotiations will ultimately deliver improved welfare packages for non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions nationwide.
