Non-implementation of new minimum wage: SSANIP charges states concerned to do the needful
By Peter Usman://
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP has reiterated its displeasure over non-implementation of the new minimum wage law by some state governments in the country.
The association therefore appealed to the states concerned that the needful should be done without further delay so as to avoid needless industrial conflicts and its consequences.
In a communiqué issued and signed by the council’s National President, Comrade Adebanjo Ogunsipe and the National Secretary, Comrade Hussaini Gwandu, at the end of the 66th quarterly NEC/GEC meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, the Council also frowned at the politics around the payment of the minimum wage arrears by the Federal Government.
It therefore warned that the continued show of insincerity on the part of the government to pay these arrears would only culminate in a needless and avoidable industrial face-off.
In this regards, the council implored the relevant tiers of governments to endeavor to do the right thing on the issues in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
Also on the lingering challenges of state Polytechnics in the country, SSANIP noted unrepentant disposition of some states government in the issue of funding of Polytechnics in their domains.
It observed the retinue of challenges of state Polytechnics ranging from incomplete and non-payment of members’ salaries, non-remittance of of deducted monthly check-off dues and other deductions, huge infrastructural deficits among others.
“Council is particularly disturbed at the non-payment of 30 months’ arrears of salaries owned our members in Osun State, State College of Technology, Esa-Oke and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, both in Osun State in addition to the outstanding of 2019, 2020 and 2021 promotions.
“It also noted the 29 months outstanding salary arrears owned members in Abia State Polytechnic in addition to non-conduct of promotion exercises in the institution for over 6 years.
“It therefore, resolved that a better working condition is a strong motivation for efficiency of workers while the opposite is a demoralizer. In this context, council thus resolved that affected states should endeavor to address these challenges in the interest of the future polytechnic education and posterity. “Council equally noted the unrepentant refusal of the Federal Government to pay some of the promotion arrears of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. Council is miffed by the government disposition on this issue and is concerned by the unprovoked direction towards industrial disharmony between the Government and the Union and thus resolved that a continued delay in addressing this issue world force the union to deploy mean of the getting these arrears paid.” It said.
