By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has lamented that its members are suffering from excruciating pains due to the alleged “humongous tax deductions” on various goods and services.
The SSANU leadership lamented that these taxes are affecting their meagre salaries, especially the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax, the hike in Value-Added Tax (VAT), and numerous unexplainable tariffs.
It has also decried the alleged payment of incomplete salaries and withholding third-party deductions in the name of salary shortfalls through the new payment platform, Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, as flagrant disobedience of financial regulations.
These were contained in a Communique issued at the end of its 50th Regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, and signed by the SSANU President, Comrade Mohamed Ibrahim.
SSANU said that the obnoxious taxes have drastically rendered the N70,000 minimum wage increase useless and of no effect.
He called on the Government of the day to work towards a worker-friendly Tax Regime to ameliorate the hardships faced by workers.
According to the communique, “NEC noted with disappointment and excruciating pains the humongous tax on various goods and services. Some of these taxes affect our meagre salaries through the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax, the Value Added Tax (VAT) hike, and numerous unexplainable tariffs.
“This has drastically rendered the Seventy (70) Thousand Naira minimum wage increase useless and of no effect.
Therefore, NEC calls on the Government of the day to work towards a worker-friendly Tax Regime to ameliorate the hardship our members face.”
Regarding the alleged inconsistencies in the GIFMIS payment platform, SSANU said it noted recorded cases of salary shortfalls and inconsistencies in the payment of third-party deductions of various universities and inter-university centres.
“Further inquiries unearth that, on migration to the GIFMIS Platform, some Universities have started short-changing their Staff by paying incomplete salaries and withholding third-party deductions in the name of salary shortfalls, in flagrant disobedience of Financial Regulations,” it said.
The communique further said: “NEC-in-Session expresses displeasure over the delay in releasing Fifty (50) Billion Naira for the payment of Earned and other allowances appropriated in the 2023 Supplementary Budget.
“NEC further frowns at the non-payment of our 25 percent and 35 percent salary increment arrears for federal universities, inter-universities centers, and some state universities.
“NEC unanimously resolves that Government should ensure that N50bn earlier appropriated should be recaptured in the 2025 budget, and our other pending allowances should be released without further delay.”
Regarding the two months of salaries withheld for their members, SSANU urged the federal government to pay the balance of the two months that are still pending.
“We commend President Bola Tinubu’s administration for paying two months out of the four months withheld salaries of our members in federal universities and inter-university centres.
“NEC further noted that the two months’ arrears were paid without remitting third-party payments such as Cooperative deductions, dues for professional associations, and others.
“NEC appeals to the Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, to, as a matter of seriousness, facilitates the payment of our remaining two months’ salaries and the third party deductions so as to guarantee industrial harmony in all Nigerian Universities and inter University Centres,” Ibrahim noted.
SSANU also deliberated on the non-payment of the minimum wage by some states, the electricity crisis, and security challenges, among other issues.
“NEC, in session, also observed that some state governments have yet to implement, not to talk of payment of the arrears of the last reviewed minimum wage. It, therefore, calls on all such state governments to do what is needed and bring workers in state universities up to the same pace as their counterparts in federal universities.
“We commend the Federal Government’s effort to improve the electricity supply, though at very exploitative and exorbitant rates. NEC observed that most universities and inter-university centres are constantly running on generators because their overhead costs are so high that they cannot pay their electricity bills, making it unconducive for universities to operate optimally.
“We observed with dismay the continuous deterioration of the security situation in the country with its attendant increase in cases of kidnapping for ransom and organ harvest, banditry farmers/herder clashes, and armed robbery, among others.
NEC, in session, strongly advised both the Federal and State Governments to be aware of their Constitutional Responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.
“We deliberated on the poor road network in the country and expressed dismay that the roads have turned into death traps for commuters. NEC appealed to states and the federal government to repair our roads intentionally and prioritize infrastructural development. The deplorable conditions of these roads have increased extortion of commuters by Nigerian security agencies and vigilante groups,” the communique stated.
