University Academic Staff Union (UASU) have strongly opposed a recent Statement issued by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education that funding to public universities will be stopped.
UASU’s National Organizing Secretary Onesmus Maluki Mutio who is also UASU Multimedia University (MMU) Chapter Secretary told the media that the CS’s announcement surprised them and that the statement means that universities will be thrown into further financial chaos.
“All public universities are in deep financial problems. Some universities are paying only 57 per cent of the net salaries to our members. Which government pays their workers 58% of their net pay in this century?” said Maluki.
According to Maluki, third-party deductions like pension contributions, bank loans and insurance for their members are not being paid.
“Our 2017/21 NCBA (National Collective Bargaining Agreement) has not been fully financed and lecturers earn different salaries in different universities yet they are employed by the same government.
“We hoped that this government would look at the deep financial challenges facing the public universities but it is very regrettable that the CS has started issuing such statements even before he settles down in office,” added Maluki.
Maluki wondered who the Cabinet Secretary had consulted and whether he had time to engage stakeholders and get proposals on how best to address the challenges.
Maluki also expressed worry about what could happen to students from poor backgrounds if public universities are turned into private entities.
Maluki said that the UASU National Secretary-General will issue a full statement on the same issue on Monday the 7th of November 2022.