By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ILORIN – AS the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and the non-academic workers in the nation’s universities is due for review in July, Labour leaders have given indication that they will demand pay rise to cope with the economic reality in the country.

The workers, made up of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, said the demand would also be in line with the letter of the agreement.

The three unions working under the Joint Action Committee, JAC, recalled that separate agreements were signed by them following a protracted nationwide strike in 2009.

President of SSANU, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, gave the indication  at the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at University of Ilorin after three-day training programme at Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, for its members on:“Trade Unions Leadership and the Challenges of Personal Income Tax in Nigeria.”

He recalled that the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, brokered the peace that led to the signing of the agreement between the Federal Government Committee led by Deacon Gamaliel Onasode and the unions led by Mr. Promise Adewusi, who was then SSANU President, Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary and Lateef Jokomba, who was also NAAT President at that time.

Ugwoke said: “We will continue to engage the government, because there is re-negotiation coming again by July and we will press for increase in salary. We need more money to keep us, especially in the university system and within the Nigerian economy.”