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In meeting with the 2016 appropriation, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was expected to generate 4.2 trillion naira from taxes; taxes on economic activities.
It is common knowledge that as at the end of November 2016, FIRS met this target of 4.2 trillion naira.
If FIRS, which generates revenue from taxes on economic activities met its target, when or at what point did economic growth contract and even went into negative as to warrant the claim of recession and existence of same?
In fact, it could be proven that the nation recorded budget surplus in 2016.
Therefore, the Federal Government has no reason whatsoever, other than deliberate intent to inflict pains and misery on the citizenry, to hype the gimmick of recession and in that garb, decide to unilaterally cut the earned salaries of the academic staff.
It is imprudent for a democratic government like the Federal Republic of Nigeria to implement unilateral pay-cut in workers’ salaries knowing that such an action is against its own policy thrust, being a signatory to most of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.
This is condemnable in every sense.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PAY-CUT
Myriad consequences could cascade from this action of FGN.
Foremost and most disturbing is the fact that State Governments who are the Proprietors of State Universities are waiting to copy this style adopted by the FGN to manage Federal Universities.
Yea, with the benefit of hindsight, the State Governments will follow suit and this would precipitate a breakdown of industrial harmony across all public Universities in the country.
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Therefore, this singular action of the FGN is a recipe for the death of public university education in Nigeria.
This implies that the masses shall no longer have access to university education in Nigeria and therefore, Nigeria shall continue to be under-developed.
WAY FORWARD
Unfortunately, this unacceptable practice which started in December 2015 has continued unabated.
World over, salary is sacrosanct and payment of full salary (including all earned allowances) is the lubricant of the wheels of industrial harmony within the university establishment.
ASUU insists that her members have rendered their duties in full (100%) and as such, they should have their salaries and allowances paid in full and not in percentages or decimals.
It is on this note that ASUU unequivocally demand an immediate restoration of releases of the full personnel costs (including arrears thereof) to all Federal Universities in Nigeria, in order to forestall the infliction of consequential damage to public.
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