The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has criticized the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to set a minimum age requirement of 18 years for enrollment in senior secondary school examinations. The union argues that this policy will drag the education sector backward.
In a communique issued after its 49th National Executive Council meeting, SSANU expressed concerns that the policy would lead to a crisis in the sector. The union urged the government to consult widely with relevant stakeholders to avert this crisis.
SSANU also condemned the delay in paying four months of withheld salaries to its members, despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive to release the funds two months ago. The union called on the government to pay the earned allowances, noting that N50 billion was earmarked for this purpose in the 2023 budget.
Additionally, SSANU appealed to the Federal Government to extend the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to universities to aid in the transportation of staff and students. The union also criticized the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, which have made life unbearable for the masses and ignited widespread suffering and criminality.
The communique further condemned the suppression of protests by the government, noting that protests are a fundamental right of citizens. SSANU warned law enforcement agencies to desist from brutalizing protesters and perform their work with professionalism.
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