CONUA Makes Demands From FG, Commends Government On Salary Increment

The Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) on Tuesday commended the Federal Government for 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary increments for staff of tertiary institutions in the country.

CONUA, however, stated that the salary was increased before the removal of the fuel subsidy, adding that it would request a post-subsidy removal increment in salaries.

The group stated this in a statement released on Tuesday through its National President, Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu.

The statement read, “In the meeting, CONUA delegates lamented the stagnation of salaries and in the response of the immediate past Minister, he said the only offer on the table and which the government is committed to paying is the offer announced by the immediate past Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu announced in September 2022 in the State House.

“CONUA delegates then pressed the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment to raise that of the non-professorial cadre to 25%. After much discussion on the matter and others, the Minister promised to raise this with relevant organs of government, and that possibly, payment could commence in May 2023.

“While appreciating the government for looking at the direction of academics for this award, we have noticed that this award was done before the removal of subsidy and we will continue to interact with the government on post-subsidy removal increment of academic salaries to meet with the present economic realities.

“Therefore we will continue to engage the government as we advocate for a better salary for lecturers in the Nigerian universities to boost the morale of academics while at the same time reducing the scourge of brain drain from the institutions.”