The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, (SSAUTHRIAI) has called for review of the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
SSAUTHRIAI through its research institutes sector in a Communiqué issued at the end of a meeting held at National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa, Niger State also called for Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) act to accommodate research institutions.
The Communiqué that was co-signed by Comrade Baba Mohammed, the Sector Chairman of the association and the Sector Secretary, Comrade Ademola Olajire stated that the Council in session urged Federal Government for quick resolution and official release of the Research Institutes new conditions/scheme of Service as discussions have been concluded, while awaiting the White Paper on the agreements with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on the 13th December, 2020. We hope for the quick resolution and clear implementation.
The Communiqué further stated that the Council urges the relevant agencies of government to review the current CONRAISS as done for other salary structures to reflect the realities in ground especially the economic hardship that has made the prices of goods and services to increase over long period . This has affected the productivity of staff in the research Institutes sector.”
“The council in session observed with dismay that despite the judgement of the National Industrial Court(NIC) delivered in September 2013 on the skipping of CONRAISS 10 some Management of Research and Project Development Institutions are yet to comply accordingly. The Council therefore, frowns at this contempt of court and calls for the total compliance with the court judgement to avert industrial action by the Unions.”
“The council appreciate the giant stride made by the 9th National Assembly in passing the bill to abolish the dichotomy between University degree and Higher National Diploma holders and therefore urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(GCFR) to assent to the bill which his predecessor couldn’t assent to before leaving office in order to ensure career progression of civil servants.”
“Council in session notes that the TETFUND Act is limited to Universities, Polytechnics and College s of Education, whereas the Research Sectors are left out. Therefore the Union reiterates the call for the review of the TETFUND Act to accommodate all Research Institutes.”
“The Council in session applauds the Federal Government on the fulfillments of one of the items in the MOU agreed upon by both the Labour Unions and the Federal Government on the payment of the agreed monthly wage award to all Federal Government workers in the country. The council therefore, urges government to respect and implement other parts of the MOU reached with the organized labour”
“The council in session observed with keen interest the ignorable role on the part of government over poor funding of Research Institutes in the country. The council therefore appeals to government to improve the current level of funding of Research activities to compete with international standards.”
“The Council in session expressed displeasure at the Federal government’s continued insensitivity to the plight of Research Institutes workers over the non payment of the 53.37% salary arrears arising from wage increase in 2009 in spite of the agreement reached between the Unions and Federal government as well as subsequent protests and appeals from the Unions.”
“The Council expressed its displeasure over the daily resurgence of banditry attacks, kidnapping and avoidable communal/religious clashes recently witnessed across the Country. The council is deeply concerned on the continuous skyrocketing prices of goods and services as a result of many financial policies made by the Federal Government.”
“The council therefore plead with the Federal government to speed up intervention to mitigate the menace and to take drastic review on all multifaceted aspects of our economy in order to ease the current hardship.”