The opening of the new semester and Academic year across major public Universities lies in uncertainty after the Non-teaching staff continues to lay down tools in demand for salary increment. The workers across major public universities decided to lay down tools in an outcry for fairness after the government refused to heed their pleas for a salary increment and yet increased for the lecturers.
This move by Government angered the non-teaching staff who decided to lay down tools citing unfairness. Efforts to reach a consensus with the Ministry of Education proved futile last week after the two parties refused to agree over payment issues.
The Umbrella body that brings together the Non-Teaching staff; Public Universities Non-teaching Staff Executive Forum (PUNTSEF) hinted on how increasing the pay of only the teaching staff is an illegal act that needs to be brought to justice.
In a statement seen by Campusbee, Jackson Betihamah the chairperson PUNTSEF said that the decisions contravene with the University and other tertiary Institutions Act 2001,Section 50 of the Act, which states that there are three categories of the staff namely; academic staff, administration and support staff. When you enhance the salary of one category and ignore the other that is clearly discriminatory and illegal.
With some universities slated to open soon to usher in the new semester, official opening still hangs in balance at these universities. Campusbee has learnt that issuing of admission letters and conducting supplementary exams at MUST was called off because staff had laid down tools.
The administration of close to seven public universities cites that the official opening dates could be moved a little further until the matter is fully settled. The concerned parties believe that the government will be able to resolve the matter and have the formalities restored as soon as possible.
