The suit targets 20 universities over alleged salary scale violations. Photo: Punch
No fewer than 20 Nigerian universities are facing a fresh lawsuit over the alleged implementation of unapproved salary structures for their academic and non-academic staff.
The case was filed at the National Industrial Court by the Congress of University Academics, known as CHPTEIN, which accused the affected institutions of breaching established federal salary frameworks for university workers.
CHPTEIN, through its coordinator, Musa Shehu, said the suit became necessary after repeated attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue failed, leaving affected staff with no option but to seek judicial intervention.
The union is specifically challenging the application of the CONTISS and CONUASS salary scales in ways it says contravene the approved versions meant for federal universities across the country.
According to the union, some institutions have altered the salary structures without the requisite approvals from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, thereby shortchanging their employees for several years.
CHPTEIN argued that the actions of the affected universities violated the remuneration rights of academic and non-teaching staff, and sought a court declaration that such unilateral salary modifications are null and void.
The plaintiff also asked the court to order the affected universities to refund all shortfalls in salaries paid under the unapproved structures, with interest, from the date of the initial violations.
The union further requested an injunction restraining the institutions and their governing councils from continuing with the implementation of the disputed salary scales pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The development adds to the growing list of industrial disputes in Nigeria's university system, which has repeatedly been troubled by disagreements over funding, remuneration, and welfare of academic staff.
Stakeholders in the education sector have urged the affected institutions to embrace dialogue and settle the dispute out of court in the interest of industrial peace and the stability of the academic calendar.
Efforts by Sunday PUNCH to get the response of the affected universities were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as several institutions did not respond to inquiries sent to their spokespersons.
Source: Punch
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