UNILAG school teachers begin work-to-rule over arrears

By Adesina Wahab

Teachers of the International School, University of Lagos (ISL), on Wednesday began a work-to-rule action over delays in implementing a National Industrial Court judgment, payment of outstanding salary arrears and restoration of their names to the university’s payroll.

The teachers are demanding the implementation of the court judgment, payment of outstanding Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching Allowance (CONTTA) arrears and the 2024 arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments.

Addressing the teachers during a protest on campus, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Lagos branch, Comrade Razak Yusuf, said the action followed prolonged delays in resolving issues concerning the teachers’ employment status and financial entitlements.

Yusuf noted that a similar dispute involving teachers at the University of Abuja had been resolved by the Federal Government following a court judgment.

The teachers said the work-to-rule action was not an abandonment of their teaching responsibilities but a response to unresolved employment and welfare concerns.

They maintained that their appointment letters and years of service established their employment relationship with the university, arguing that their posting to the International School did not absolve the institution of its responsibilities as their employer.

According to them, the National Industrial Court judgment affirmed their status as bona fide university employees, making its implementation necessary to resolve the dispute.

The teachers also expressed concern over their exclusion from the university’s payroll, saying it had placed them at a disadvantage compared with other university employees.

They urged the management to restore the affected teachers to the payroll in line with the court order and address any funding or administrative concerns through appropriate channels.

The group further demanded payment of outstanding CONTTA arrears and the 2024 salary adjustment arrears, saying the delays had compounded the financial difficulties facing the affected workers and their families.

They called on the university management to provide a clear payment plan specifying the amounts due, the process for settlement and the timeline for payment.

The teachers also rejected suggestions that the interim arrangement under the university’s Council protocol was an act of charity or goodwill, insisting that they were seeking recognition of their employment rights rather than special treatment.

They said their continued commitment to teaching should not be interpreted as acceptance of indefinite delays in resolving their entitlements.

The teachers called on the university management to implement the court judgment fully, restore affected staff to the payroll, settle outstanding financial obligations and establish a timetable for resolving the remaining employment and welfare issues.

They said they remained open to dialogue with the management and their representatives but wanted concrete steps towards a lasting resolution rather than further assurances.

The teachers expressed hope that a timely resolution would restore industrial harmony and enable them to continue their duties with greater certainty about their employment status and financial security.

As of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to respond to the teachers’ claims and demands.

The status of teachers and other workers employed in international schools operated by federal universities has been a recurring source of disputes, with disagreements over their employment conditions and entitlements resulting in litigation across the country.

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