FG directs VCs to stop retrenchment of non-teaching staff at 60 years

In a swift move to halt another strike in the university system as threatened by the non-teaching staff, the Federal Government has directed university vice-chancellors to stop retrenching non-academic staff at the age of 60 years pending the passage of the new bill before the National Assembly and its assent by the president.The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), under the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU, had threatened to go on strike due to the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement signed with them.The contending issues in the agreement are the 65 years retirement age, improvement in the funding of universities and earned allowance and career structure for technologists on CONTISS 14 and 15.Following their meeting with the Minister of Education Professor Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i and the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, SSANU president, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that the ministers showed them evidence that the issues would be resolved soonest and that government was doing everything to ensure accelerated passage of the bill on the 65 years retirement age and other related issues.
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