The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions has intensified its demand for equal treatment in the ongoing renegotiation process with the Federal Government, insisting that welfare benefits approved for university lecturers should also extend to non-teaching staff across federal tertiary institutions.
The union’s position comes amid growing expectations surrounding the outcome of discussions between education unions and government representatives over improved conditions of service in Nigerian universities.
Speaking with journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, NASU General Secretary, Mr Peters Adeyemi, argued that non-academic workers face the same harsh economic realities confronting their counterparts in the academic workforce and should therefore receive comparable allowances.
According to him, the union is specifically seeking parity following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent increase in allowances for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. He maintained that excluding non-academic staff from similar benefits would amount to unfair treatment.
Adeyemi noted that NASU members play indispensable roles in the daily administration and functioning of universities, providing essential services that support teaching, research, and overall institutional effectiveness.
He disclosed that the union had previously rejected a government proposal offering a 30 per cent increase in allowances, describing it as inadequate when measured against what had been granted to academic staff.
“Though they are our senior colleagues, we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel,” he reportedly said, emphasising that inflation and the rising cost of living affect all categories of workers regardless of their job descriptions.
The NASU leader further argued that landlords, transport operators, healthcare providers, and other service sectors do not distinguish between academic and non-academic employees when determining prices and charges.
Education stakeholders have long warned that disparities in welfare packages among university workers often breed dissatisfaction, disrupt industrial harmony, and create tensions capable of affecting the smooth running of tertiary institutions.
Adeyemi revealed that negotiations between NASU and the Federal Government had made considerable progress, particularly within the university sector, expressing optimism that an agreement could soon be reached.
He explained that the outcome of the university-based discussions would likely influence negotiations involving workers in polytechnics and colleges of education, where NASU also represents non-teaching personnel.
According to him, one of the major concerns of the union remains the government’s delayed implementation of agreements previously reached with education sector unions, a situation he said frequently triggers avoidable industrial disputes.
He stressed that collective bargaining can only be effective when agreements entered into by both parties are honoured faithfully and implemented within agreed timelines.
Observers within the education sector have repeatedly called on the government and labour unions to prioritise dialogue and mutual understanding to prevent disruptions that often impact students’ academic calendars and institutional stability.
While reaffirming NASU’s commitment to peaceful negotiations, Adeyemi maintained that the union would continue to advocate for equitable compensation that reflects prevailing economic conditions and acknowledges the contributions of non-academic staff to the nation’s tertiary education system.
