The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have taken a bold step by directing their members to embark on a seven-day warning strike starting from today, Monday, March 18, 2024.
The decision to initiate the warning strike stems from the unaddressed issue of unpaid salaries of university workers who were affected by the “No work, no pay” policy invoked by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2022. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members have received their withheld salaries, non-teaching staff represented by SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) are still awaiting payment.
Despite issuing ultimatums to the government, the non-teaching staff unions have seen no action taken to resolve the salary payment issue. The failure of the government to respond to their demands led to the issuance of a seven-day warning strike notice by SSANU and NASU through the JAC, with the strike officially commencing today.
A statement signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, expressed disappointment in the government’s lack of response and emphasized the need for equal treatment of all university workers. The unions have reiterated their plea for the withheld salaries to be paid promptly, mirroring the actions taken for their academic counterparts.
The commencement of the warning strike serves as a unified stand by NASU and SSANU to demand fair treatment and financial justice for their members, highlighting the importance of addressing the salary grievances of all university workers.
The statement which was titled, “Commencement of a 7-day warning strike,” read “The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU has inundated the Federal Government with the need to pay the withheld 4 months’ salaries of our members in the Federal Universities and Inter-University Centres as done for our Academic counterpart to no avail.
“As a matter of fact, the attention of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, OON, the Honourable Minister of Education was called to this injustice and unfair treatment of our members in our letter referenced JAC/NS/VOL.II/277 dated 13th February, 2024 and to also inform them to resolve the issue positively before it leads to unnecessary upheaval in our University Sector.
“In a similar vein, a press release was issued on 1st March , 2024 and the Federal Government was given 7-days ultimatum to do the needful in respect of the payment of the withheld 4 months’ salaries but nothing was done on same.
“Having waited patiently for the ultimatum to expire without a positive response to our demand by the Government, this is to direct our members in the Universities and Inter- University Centres throughout the country to commence a 7-day warning strike effective Monday, 18th March , 2024 in the first instance.
“Please note that the 7-day warning strike should be comprehensive and total as no concession should be given in any guise.
“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in the Universities and Inter-University Centres. ” The statement concluded.
