Delay in implementing approved new minimum wage by federal government is threatening the workforce of University of Benin (UNIBEN) Security Department.
Investigation revealed that staffers under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in the University, started benefiting from the federal government new minimum wage in the month of September 2024.
But, over 200 UNIBEN Patrol Guards (PGs) – ‘casual staff’ in the institution who are yet-to-be captured in the wage adjustment preference by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, are threatening to quit
due to lack of motivation, after the embargo placed on employment by the federal government.
Already, the fate of disgruntled casual staff who were engaged in 2021 and drafted into Security Department, Sanitation, including Gardeners and others — all of whom are on N29,976 monthly wage by the University, which is currently understaffed, are uncertain.
This followed alleged plans by the Management of the institution to contract the casual workers to a private entity to run like the few outsourced Solar security Guards whose take home pay is N35,000 monthly, a development many fear could leave a troubling legacy for the Vice Chancellor who is billed to handover the barton of leadership on December 1st 2024.
Investigation also revealed most of the PGs in Grade Level are University graduates, who were encouraged to signed up for the jobs with their O ‘ Level results three years ago due to high level of unemployment in Nigeria, with a pledge that their employment will be regularized later.
The deft hands in suppressing the casual workers, reached a breaking point after some senior staff in the Security Department who are supposed to take demands of casual staff to the University’s Management, secretly planned enlistment into Academic Cadre and Administrative Department of the tertiary institution as escape routes.
One of casual staff of the University said sources close to the VC said Professor Salami is not yet dispose to approving a new minimum wage for casual workers in the institution, citing declining revenue of the University, which currently pays N190 million monthly electricity Bills, including outstanding arrears to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
He said, “This job is prune to hazard. We do not get hazard allowance. We are not also entitled to monthly leave. The University is understaffed. Why should our welfare be handled with kid-gloves?
“They said we are essential workers. Pay minimum wage, you said wait. This is man’s inhumanity to man. Enough of this enough. It’s good we start from somewhere, but they are oppressing us. We don’t get paid when other staff are paid.
“Most of our colleagues, including ‘the University strike forces’ are leaving in droves, without replacement. This is not a good news at all.
“The head of the security Department is scared. He does not want to talk to madam VC”, he said.
Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson for the University of Benin, Dr (Mrs) Benedicta Ehanire were unsuccessful.
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