Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union COEASU has called on the Nigerian Government to return to the renegotiation table with the union to conclude renegotiation which includes salary increases for academic staff in Colleges of Education across the country.
The President of COEASU, Dr Smart Olugbeko made the call in Abuja while addressing journalists on the 40% pay rise by the federal government to civil workers.
The federal government in granting the increase, explained that it was to enable civil servants to cushion the effect of inflation and increase the cost of living
Olugbeko said that the Union has reached an understanding with the Federal Government Team on virtually all issues raised for renegotiation except salary increase which the Government Team said was awaiting the response of the government.
“The Federal government eventually acceded to the demand of the Union by inaugurating the FGN/COEASU Renegotiation Team in 2022 under the leadership of Professor Kabiru Ishyaku, a former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
“There had been various efforts on the part of the Union to make government renegotiate the 2010 agreement that gave lecturers in Colleges of Education the current salary structure even though the agreement should have been renegotiated after three years.
Salary Increase In Colleges
It further added that lecturers and other workers in Colleges of Education had their last increase in salary in 2010 which was 13 years ago.
“The implication is that what the lecturers were earning in 2010 is the same amount they still earn in 2023.
“Salary increase for academic staff in tertiary institutions is not a donation from government. Rather it is a product of negotiation between the government and the unions because of the peculiarity of the system in terms of job specifications that attract different allowances for different cadres of workers,” Dr Olugbeko added.
COEASU however expressed dismay at the pay rise decision that excluded some categories of workers including lecturers and other workers in the tertiary institutions.
“The Union is, however, appalled at the government’s decision to exclude some categories of workers including lecturers and other workers in the tertiary institutions even though the various unions in the sector have made several overtures to the government on salary increase,” COEASU President added.
