By Muyiwa Adekojede
In a recent development, the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Wages, and Income Commission, has given the green light for an increment in the salaries of academic and non-academic staff members across all tertiary institutions in the nation. This information was obtained by The PUNCH.
This increment particularly targets junior staff members of tertiary institutions, and it involves raising their salaries from the previous 23.5% increment, which was reviewed last year, to a new rate of 25%.
When questioned about their awareness of this new development, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, acknowledged their knowledge and expressed anticipation for its implementation.
He specified that junior lecturers would receive a 25% increment, while chief lecturers and professors would benefit from a 35% increment.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the arrears resulting from this increment, effective from January 2023, will be duly disbursed.
In contrast, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the National Vice-President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, clarified that such communications would be directed to university management rather than ASUU.
Additionally, our correspondent obtained a letter dated September 14, 2023, written by Eyo Nta, the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of the NSIWC, addressed to the Minister of Education just before his departure for the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The letter referenced the implementation of a 35% and 23.5% salary increment for staff in tertiary institutions.
It stated, “The 23.5% earlier reflected in our letter SWC/S/04/S.149/I/59 of 28 July 2022 and stated in paragraph 2 of your letter, has been increased to 25% which accounted for the increased cost implications. This Commission is really pleased with the success your informal discussions have achieved. We shall endeavor to support all your efforts aimed at repositioning the education sector. Please accept the assurances of my warm regards.”
Subsequently, on September 14, 2023, the commission issued a circular informing key government offices, including the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, about the implementation of the newly revised salary structures.
The circular indicated, “The Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting having taken into consideration the various stages of collective bargaining in various sectors, and specifically engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Institutions-based Unions, and consequent upon the Federal Government’s approval, as well as 2023 budgetary provisions, approval is hereby conveyed for the revision of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary Structure for academic staff of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with effect from 1st January 2023.”
Additionally, a letter from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation dated September 21, 2023, confirmed the salary increment, specifying its application to various salary structures in tertiary institutions.
This directive will be effective from January 1, 2023.
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