Non Academic University workers are pushing for equal treatment in Nigeria's ongoing federal renegotiation process, with their union rejecting a government offer it describes as insufficient compared to what academic staff have already received.

Speaking with journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions General Secretary Mr Peters Adeyemi stated that the Federal Government's approval of a 40% increase in allowances for Academic Staff Union of Universities members must be matched for Non Teaching staff across Federal Tertiary Institutions.

Adeyemi disclosed that NASU had already turned down a government proposal offering a 30% allowance increase, arguing the figure fell short of what economic conditions demand and what had been extended to academic counterparts.

"Though they are our senior colleagues, we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel," he noted, adding that inflation and the rising cost of living affect all categories of workers without distinction.

The NASU leader maintained that landlords, transport operators, and healthcare providers apply the same charges regardless of whether a worker holds an academic or Non Academic title, making the case that welfare disparities between the two groups are economically unjustifiable.

Adeyemi emphasised that Non Academic staff provide essential administrative and support services that sustain teaching, research, and institutional operations daily, and that their contributions deserve comparable recognition in welfare packages.

He revealed that negotiations between NASU and the Federal Government had recorded considerable progress, particularly within the University sector, and expressed confidence that a resolution could be reached soon. He added that the outcome of University negotiations would set the tone for discussions covering Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

A recurring concern for the union, Adeyemi noted, is the government's pattern of delayed implementation of previously concluded agreements, a situation he said consistently generates avoidable industrial disputes across the education sector.

He stressed that collective bargaining loses its value when agreements are not honoured within agreed timelines, and reaffirmed NASU's commitment to pursuing equitable compensation through peaceful negotiations.