Agric Colleges Union Rejects Exclusion From 40% Pay Rise

Leadership of Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA), has expressed concern over exclusion from the 40 per cent pay increase to those on Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), announced by the federal government recently.

The union, in a statement signed by its president, Dr. Peter Aboki and its general secretary, Comrade Saidu Adamu Paiko, described the government’s action as a selective pay increase to workers on CONPSS salary structure which it said was unfair to other public servants.

The union said, ‘‘Recently, the federal government announced 40 per cent pay increase to those on CONPSS. The minister described the salary increase as ‘peculiar allowance’ for civil servants in view of the current economic realities. The move was meant to cushion the effects of the rising inflation and cost of living, hikes in transportation fare, housing, and electricity tariffs on government workers

‘‘The government failed to realize that not only those on CONPSS are affected by the factors listed, but all civil servants. Most civil servants have been living on the mercy of God. The salaries they get are not realistic because the cost of living has risen to unbearable heights. It is surprising that the government is making a salary increment for only a sector, neglecting others.This press statement becomes necessary for us to put the narrative clearly before the public, and to emphasized that the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA), will do all that is within the law to resist this injustice by the Federal Government. We call on the government to rescind this decision and include our members in the 40 per cent increase.’’