There is a glimmer of hope for members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) as they may receive half of their withheld salaries, pending approval from President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Despite the delay in approving the payment, Mamman assured that the government was actively working towards resolving the issue.

He clarified that the decision to compensate academic staff was discretionary and does not automatically extend to non-academic staff.

According to Mamman, the non-academic staff members of universities were not on strike for the same period in 2022 as their academic counterparts.

He said the government has been “doing everything possible to get relief for them.”

SSANU and NASU had accused the Federal Government of unfair treatment and discrimination by failing to pay them like their academic counterparts.

Recall that in 2022, all university unions embarked on an eight-month strike, advocating for improved welfare conditions.

While former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration implemented a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, President Tinubu approved the release of four months of the withheld salaries last October, although only for the academic staff.

Addressing allegations of discrimination, Mamman emphasised the unity of purpose among university staff, dismissing any intentional exclusion but rather attributing it to initial communication challenges.

“There is a court judgement on ‘no work, no pay.’ ASUU getting four months’ pay was actually a discretion and decision on the part of the President. So, it doesn’t automatically transfer (to NASU and SSANU) but the matter is under consideration.”

“I don’t think it is safe to put a time on it but it’s safer to say that we are on it and we are pushing.

“And in any case, the non-academic staff, were not on strike for the same period with the academic staff — about four months or so. So, if they are getting payment, it is going to be half of that (payment), if the President will follow his precedent with the academic staff,” the minister emphasised.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

________________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________