SSANU warns workers against voting for selfish politicians

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has warned workers against voting for politicians that are not committed to ensuring a better working condition in the country.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 34th National Executive Council, (NEC), meeting, at the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, the National President of the union, Samson Igwoke, said unsympathetic politicians forget to pursue popular policies that can enhance the living standard of the people once they get into office.

SSANU berated the Federal Government for refusing to obey court orders for the reengagement of University Staff school workers that were sacked by some universities.

The communiqué, which was signed by the National President of the association, Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Abdussobur Salaam also warned against the proliferation of universities.

The communiqué read in part: “NEC calls on all Nigerians to be more circumspect and careful in the choice of leaders who would determine the affairs of the nation for the next four years. NEC urges Nigerians to be wary of politicians who make promises they never mean to keep, noting that the hopes of the ordinary Nigerians have been dashed and their trust in those who seek to lead them have been betrayed time and time again.

“NEC notes that it is the way of politicians and members of the political class in Nigeria, to seek all means, fair or foul, to control the wealth of the nation at the expense of the ordinary citizen who continues to live in abject poverty, pain and hopelessness.

“NEC therefore urges citizens to realize the great power they have over the electoral process by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Cards in order to be able to exercise their powers and ensure that themselves and their children are not used for political violence and other unwholesome acts that can jeopardize the electoral process.”

SSANU noted that the minimum wage negotiations are becoming unnecessarily protracted, saying that it does appears that the Federal Government seems not to be sincere about the negotiations and that the decision of the Federal Government team to unilaterally postponed the meeting of the Committee sine die, on the grounds of further consultations, is flimsy.

It added: “SSANU joins the Nigeria Labour Congress to call on the Federal Government to face the serious business of reviewing the national minimum wage lest it incurs the wrath of the Nigerian workers and their millions of dependents who have been long suffering and patient. Nigerian workers should not be pushed to the wall, as the implication of this, could have dire consequences on governance.”

On the proliferation of universities in the country that do not have the required equipment for excellent teaching, SSANU expressed worry about the rate of approvals granted for the establishment of new universities by government.

It observed that the establishment of universities have almost become like constituency projects as every Senator seems to be sponsoring a bill for the establishment or upgrade of an institution to a University in his or her constituency.

While stressing that though the existing universities may have challenges meeting up with the increasing admission needs of the country, SSANU insisted that the solution was not the proliferation of universities, explaining that government should improve the funding and infrastructure of the existing universities with the aim of increasing their carrying capacities and the number of students they can admit.