Legislators of the 10th Parliament have warned of looming strikes within public Universities if Government doesn’t live to its promise of providing the Shs45.5Bn salaries pledged to the lecturers.
The warnings are contained in the report on the 2018/2019 national budget, of the Budget Committee that was adopted last week.
The report highlighted that while Government increased salary for University lectures in 2016/2017, the Salary structure at public
Universities were yet to be fully harmonized, where some Universities still rely on part time lecturers whom they pay at their own rates.
It was observed that the public Universities’ total wage enhancement for both teaching and non-teaching staff was Shs78.5bn in 2017/2018 however, only Shs19Bn was allocated leaving a shortfall of Shs59.5bn.
Additionally, in 2018/2019, Shs33Bn has been allocated leaving a shortfall of Shs45.5bn bringing total shortfall of Shs105Bn in public Universities, salaries.
Parliament warned that the matter isn’t adequately handled, this could bring about unrest at the Universities.
The Committee called on both the Ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Finance, to harmonise the salary structure in all public Universities and halt the creation of new Universities until funds are got for full payment of the University staff salaries.
“Ministry of Finance should ensure that funds are sourced to provide for Shs105Bn shortfall in the salaries of public Universities to avert unrest at the Universities. Government should ensure fulfillment of the commitment and the University staff are argued to continue with the dialogue as resources are being mobilized subsequently.
Yet still, the Ministry of Education is likely to limit its inspecting activities in the coming financial year, after the Shs7.3Bn proposal to carry out the said activities was thrown out by the Ministry of Finance.
At the time of scrutinizing the budget, MPs revealed that the funding of this function has always been undermined by under budgeting and many times cuts in actual budget releases.
In its earlier report on the state of Private Secondary schools in the country, MPs indicated that there were few inspectors, with poor facilitation and lack of transport (motorcycles or vehicles) to carry out their work.
And following that discovery, the Education Committee of Parliament called for a total of Shs7.3Bn be reinstated for the inspectorate function and Shs900M be provided to procure additional motorcycles for inspectors’ transport as well as Shs10Bn be provided for inspection at the Ministry Headquarters.
