Chai! Na serious matter wey dey ground for Nigeria as government don sign new agreement wey go change the game for university lecturers. E be like say dem don hear di cry of these lecturers wey don dey suffer for matter of pension and salary.
According to di new deal, federal government don agree make lecturers enjoy 40% increase for their salary, plus better allowances. Professors wey fit retire at 70 go dey collect pension wey go be di same as wetin dem dey collect for their last salary. Na so e suppose be, abi? Dem no suppose chop less after dey don serve our pikin dem, right?
But abeg, make we no dey deceive ourselves. Some people don dey ask about di sustainability of this pension wey sabi shine. Ogbonna, di Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Edo State University, Professor Ben Ugheoke, don talk say other public officers like judges and permanent secretaries don dey enjoy di same package. So, wetin go carry belle for professors?
Another lecturer, Dr. Hashim Suleiman, from Ahmadu Bello University, don talk say him no get doubt for di government’s ability to follow through with di matter. He say di worries wey people dey carry for head no suppose dey, especially because dis administration don dey do small small for academics. E be like dem don finally catch di jinx wey dey make lectures dey interrupted every time.
Dr. Oboromemi Weinoh from National Open University of Nigeria, don also talk say make we give di government chance to show wetin dem fit do for di new salary structure wey dem don sign. She dey optimistic say di implementation go jam well, no be like say dem go just carry am waka pass.
As for Dr. Nathan Emmanuel, e don hail di president, Bola Tinubu, say im dey prioritize di welfare of lecturers with dis agreement. Na serious matter o! He say di law no dey against wetin dem dey do, instead e dey support di right wey lecturers get. If dem no carry dem professor matter serious, wetin go happen to di future of our education system?
For years, di wahala wey dey disturb Nigerian universities no be small. Lack of funds, poor infrastructure, dem dey vex lecturers anytime wey dem try to stand up for their rights. E don tey wey ASUU dey embark on strike like say na dem own be di pastime. But now, many people dey hopeful say dis new agreement fit change di narrative.
Whether this pension arrangement go last or fit uphold, na only di government fit explain how dem wan run am. As e be, di success of dis pension model go depend on wetin dem go do after dis sweet talk. If dem fit copy wetin work for other groups, na him di lecturers go smile last.
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