The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has lamented the non-payment of arrears of minimum wage by state and federal polytechnics.
The association asked the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to look into all cases of omission and short-changing of its members in a bid to ensure that the identified “anomalies” are rectified.
The association said this in a communique issued at the end of its General Executive Council in Abuja and signed by its President, Adebanjo Ogunsipe, and Acting National Secretary, Emmanuel Enyiegor.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2019 signed the minimum wage into law.
Employers of labour were expected to implement the law along with the consequential adjustments that came with the wage.
Over four years since the wage was passed into law, some state establishments are still struggling to pay the arrears.
SSANIP has asked that the payment schedule for the arrears be made available for respective beneficiary institutions to allow for easy collation of complaints.
Part of the communique reads: “Council-in-Session deliberated on the report of haphazard payment of arrears of new minimum wage in many Federal Polytechnics and was miffed at the fact that many members in these branches were yet to be paid. Council thus resolved to charge the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, to look into all cases of omission and short-changing in a bid to ensure that these observed anomalies are rectified. Council equally charged that the Payment Schedule for the arrears should be made available for respective beneficiary institutions to allow for easy collation of complaints.
“Council-in-Session frowned at the seeming regular delay in the release of third-party deductions in Federal Polytechnics. In like manner, Council was miffed at the withholding of 25 months NHF (National Housing Fund) deductions of members in Federal Institutions by the same payment platform. Council further noted that this development is gravely affecting the running of Union activities and demoralizing to affected members. In view of the evident recalcitrance of the IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel information System) and its inability to escape fraudulent tendencies, Council resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on the payment platform”.
The polytechnic workers also decried the failure of the Federal Government to release the reviewed Schemes of Service document.
“Council noted that in spite of the many promises from the government, the much-expected reviewed Scheme of Service document is yet to be released. Council, therefore, charged the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who is saddled with the responsibility to endeavour to fast-track the immediate release of the Scheme of Service document to avert industrial disharmony in the Polytechnic system”, the association said.
The association also lamented the poor funding and administration of “many State Polytechnics in Nigeria, and resolved that State Governments needed to do more in the deployment of funds for the development of these Polytechnics as well as the engagement of capable hands in the administration of State Polytechnics and similar institutions in their domain, in the best interest of Polytechnic education and the technological advancement of the country”.
The polytechnic workers equally decided the nonpayment of the backlog of salary arrears by many polytechnics.
“Council equally noted the backlog of salary arrears owed members in many Polytechnics, particularly, such institutions as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State (11 months); Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State (4 months); Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State (14 months); Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun State (14 months).
“Abia State Polytechnic, Aba (35 months); all State Polytechnics in Benue State (11 months). It noted the hardship that members in such institutions had been subjected to and thus enjoined all concerned State Governments to wake up to their responsibilities”, the communiqué stated.
