The Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission, has granted approval for an increase in salaries for both academic and non-academic staff members at tertiary institutions across the country.
This adjustment includes a raise in the percentage increment for junior staff members from the previously reviewed 23.5 per cent to 25 per cent.
It has been reported that these increments, which are retroactive to January 2023, will also include the payment of arrears.
While there is no official mention of withheld salaries for academics and non-academics who went on strike in 2022, Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, has reached out to the Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, to inquire about the status of collective bargaining for salary increments between various unions and the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sources within the Ministry of Education suggest that the minister’s action may be influenced by visits from academic unions and intervention by pressure groups.
The national president of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, confirmed their awareness of the salary increment and expressed anticipation for its implementation. According to him, junior lecturers will see a 25 per cent increment, while chief lecturers and professors will benefit from a 35 per cent raise.
However, the National Vice-President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Chris Piwuna, indicated that such a letter regarding the increment would be addressed to university management rather than the union.
In a letter dated September 14, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of the NSIWC, Eyo Nta, conveyed the increase in the percentage increment and expressed support for efforts to enhance the education sector.
The Commission also issued a circular dated the same day to inform relevant authorities, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, among others, about the implementation of the revised salaries.
Further confirmation of the salary increment was provided by a letter from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, dated September 21, 2023, which detailed the approval for revised salary structures for various sectors within tertiary institutions, effective January 1, 2023. This includes academic and non-academic staff in federal polytechnics, colleges of education, and universities.
