By DAYO ADESULU
Unions Demand Action on Withheld Salaries
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) has announced that there has been no official communication from the Nigerian government regarding their ongoing strike, which began on Monday. This indefinite strike has effectively halted university activities across the country, as the unions demand the payment of four months of withheld salaries.
Statements from Union Leaders
In an interview with PUNCH Online, Abdussobur Salaam, the National Vice-President of SSANU, confirmed that there have been no substantial updates on the strike and expressed frustration over the lack of progress. He mentioned that while there were informal contacts made between the Minister of State for Education and union executives, these discussions did not yield any concrete results. “This issue has persisted for a long time, with repeated promises that have not been fulfilled,” Salaam stated, emphasizing that all ultimatums issued by the unions have expired without any payment being made.
Urgent Calls for Government Action
The unions are calling on the authorities to take decisive action, as they have reached a breaking point. “We have come too far and can no longer accept empty promises. If we don’t receive our payments, we won’t back down,” Salaam asserted.
A statement released by Mohammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, and Prince Peters Adeyemi, the General Secretary of NASU, confirmed that the ultimatum given to the Federal Government regarding the withheld salaries expired at midnight on Sunday, October 27, 2024. The unions are demanding:
- Payment of the four months’ withheld salaries
- Improved remuneration
- Payment of earned allowances
- Implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government
Previous Actions and Government Response
The Federal Government had previously invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during the prolonged strike by university-based unions in 2022. In a recent circular, the unions gave the government a seven-day deadline to address their demands for the payment of outstanding salaries and to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 20, 2022.
The unions had previously indicated that they would take action if their demands were not met, issuing a 10-day ultimatum during a National Peaceful Protest held on July 18, 2024, at Unity Fountain in Abuja. However, no action has been taken by the government in response to their protests.
Conclusion
The ongoing strike by SSANU and NASU reflects the deep-rooted frustrations of non-academic staff in Nigerian universities over unpaid salaries and unfulfilled agreements. As university activities remain disrupted, the unions are resolute in their demands, urging the government to take meaningful steps to address the situation. The lack of official communication and progress from the government continues to heighten tensions within the academic community.
