NASU lauds FG’s war against insurgency
NAN-H-117
NASU
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on its successful fight against insurgency.
The union gave the commendation in a communiqué issued at the end of its two-day National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
The communiqué, signed by Mr Chris Ani and Mr Peters Adeyemi, the National President and General Secretary respectively, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
It, however, urged the president to quickly address other challenges confronting the nation’s economy.
It congratulated the Armed Forces for their gallantry and sacrifices for the nation.
The union, however, expressed concern over the incidences of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, internet fraud, activities of herdsmen and the emerging trend of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Niger Delta militancy.
It urged the president to handle these emerging trends with utmost care and diplomacy rather than the sole use of military option.
“We call on all Nigerians to take the issue of insecurity as very important and should synergise with the security agencies in tackling the menace in the interest of our corporate existence,” it said.
The union lamented the inability of about 27 state governments to pay their workers’ salaries running into several months.
According to NASU, payment of salaries is a statutory obligation, which must be fulfilled.
“It is disturbing that the bailout funds, released by Federal Government to state governors for the purpose of clearing the arrears of salaries, were diverted to other purposes.
“In the spirit of the fight against corruption, we urged President Buhari to investigate all those involved in this heinous crime and bring them to book.
“The economic recession is biting harder on workers and, therefore, demands the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries to workers.
“We call on state governors, who are not able to fulfill this obligation to workers, to resign.
“In sympathy with the plight of workers, NASU affirms its support for NLC’s position of `No Pay, No Work’,’’ the communiqué read in part.
It condemned inadequate funding of the education sector over the years despite agitations by relevant stakeholders.
NASU recalled that the last administration released an intervention fund of N200 billion in 2014 to the universities for critical infrastructures with a promise to thereafter release N100 billion for two consecutive years but reneged on the promise.
It, therefore, appealed to the present administration to adopt and fulfill this promise for improved funding.
The union also examined the state of nation’s economy and concluded that the economy had gone into avoidable recession due to a number of factors.
The factors included lack of proper coordination and unsteady economic and fiscal policies of the federal government.
It, therefore, urged the government to fine tune these policies with a view to urgently take the economy out of recession.
The union also urged the federal government to immediately remit all outstanding pension deductions, the contributions of the government and accrued interest into the retirement savings accounts of all federal employees without further delays.
NASU also condemned the recent agitation by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for an increase in the pump price of petrol.
It views the proposal as provocative, inhuman, unjust and unacceptable.
The union aligns itself with the position of the NLC in opposing any attempt to further increase the pump price of petrol.
It expressed concern at the increasing level of unemployment and the dimming hope for positive improvement, in spite of continued promises of job creation by successive governments.
It called on government at all levels to address the issue of unemployment of the youths to avert their being engaged in social vices.
It expressed concern that the mere campaign of diversification to agriculture and solid mineral exploitation without concrete action and workable framework could worsen the situation.
The union, therefore, resolved that the government should urgently put workable framework in place to actualise diversification of our economy.
It also decried the high cost of governance and the extravagant lifestyles of political office holders which did not reflect the current economic realities in Nigeria.
“We, therefore, demands for the immediate reduction in the cost of governance in the area of security votes, over bloated political appointees, excessive political travels and the use of chartered private jets,’’ the union resolved. (NAN)
OOG/AIB/AFA
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Felix Ajide
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