The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) Wednesday said it received with mixed feelings the 40 percent pay raise in the salary of civil servants by the federal government and described the action as “divide and rule” tactics.
This was contained in a statement by COEASU president, Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko, in Abuja.
Dr. Olugbeko said the union is glad that civil servants who are the drivers of government policies have been considered for salary increase.
He however said the union is appalled at government’s decision to exclude some categories of workers, including lecturers and other workers in the tertiary institutions even though the various unions in the sector have made several overtures to government on salary increase.
“The present action is an attempt by the federal government to divide Nigerian workers and cause confusion within the system. The discriminatory increase is an attempt to promote divide and rule and make Nigerian workers unable to speak with one voice on the issues that affect their general welfare.
“The federal government, in granting the increase stated that it was to enable civil servants cushion the effect of inflation and increase in the cost of living as if lecturers and other workers in the tertiary education sector are immune against inflation and geometrical rise in cost of living.
“It is disheartening to note that lecturers and other workers in Colleges of Education had their last increase in salary in 2010 which was 13 years ago. The implication is that what the lecturers were earning in 2010 is the same amount they still earn in 2023,” Olugbeko said.
The union leader wondered why government at the various levels in Nigeria treat the issue of salary increase as a privilege they give to workers at their whims and caprices.