By Okeke Eunice
The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has pledged to halt all university activities nationwide starting Monday, with an indefinite strike.
In a statement released to The PUNCH on Sunday, signed by SSANU’s National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU’s General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions noted that their deadline to the Federal Government regarding withheld salaries expired at midnight on Sunday.
The unions are pressing for the release of four months of unpaid salaries, better wages, earned allowances, and the fulfillment of the 2009 agreements with the government.
The Federal Government, via the Ministry of Labour and Employment, implemented the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy when four university-based unions went on an extended strike in 2022.
In October, President Bola Tinubu ordered the payment of four of the eight months of withheld salaries for academic staff, which was eventually disbursed in February.
However, the directive did not address non-teaching staff, leading to concerns about their situation. The unions criticized the directive as being selective and opposed it.
The unions subsequently reached out to the government, issued ultimatums, staged protests, and conducted warning strikes, yet their four months of withheld salaries remain unpaid.
In their statement, they urged all state-owned universities to include their local demands in the strike action as necessary.
“Strict compliance with this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in Federal and State-owned universities, as well as Inter-University Centres,” it stated.
The statement also referenced the latest circular from the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, titled “Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months’ Salaries,” dated October 21, 2024. This circular demanded that the Federal Government address the payment of the outstanding four months’ salaries and implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on August 20, 2022, before the deadline of midnight on October 27, 2024.
It recalled that during the last National Peaceful Protest held by the JAC of NASU and SSANU on July 18, 2024, an ultimatum of ten days was given to the government to pay the withheld salaries to avoid a complete shutdown of activities in universities and Inter-University Centres.
“It is disheartening that we have issued multiple ultimatums since then with no positive response from the government. It has become clear that the government is not favorably inclined toward our legitimate demands despite numerous interactions, dialogues, and assurances regarding payment, all of which have yielded no results.”
“We have shown significant patience, allowing several deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response from the Government regarding our demands,” the statement read. “We now direct all our members in universities and Inter-University Centres across the country to hold a joint congress on their respective campuses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and to initiate an indefinite, comprehensive, and total strike, as no concessions will be accepted under any circumstances.”
SSANU members manage key facilities on campuses, raising concerns about a complete halt to activities if the strike begins today.
“Our members oversee water supply, electricity, communication, internet services, and security. If they pay us this money today, we will call off the strike,” SSANU leader Ibrahim told a national television.
The strike coincides with President Tinubu directing outgoing Minister of Education Prof. Mamman Tahir to transfer responsibilities to incoming Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa on Wednesday.
Attempts to contact the Federal Ministry of Education for a response to the unions’ industrial action were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
In March, the union launched a one-week warning strike after receiving no response to their letter sent to the education minister and the President’s Chief of Staff. In July, the unions organized a nationwide protest to draw attention to their situation.
Following the July meeting, education ministry spokesperson Folashade Boriowo stated that the withheld salaries had been escalated to the highest level of government and were being addressed.
Earlier this month, the union issued a seven-day ultimatum regarding the withheld salaries, but this effort also failed to yield results.
“It is disheartening that we have issued multiple ultimatums since then without any positive response from the government. It is clear that the government is not inclined to address our rightful and legitimate demands, despite numerous interactions, dialogues, and assurances of payment, all of which have been ineffective,” the unions stated.
Last month, the unions announced their intention to initiate an indefinite strike if their unpaid salaries were not received within three weeks. Their demands included the payment of four months of withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
In a statement jointly signed by SSANU leader Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Adeyemi, the unions noted that the Federal Government was given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to pay the outstanding four months’ salaries for university staff, warning of a potential shutdown of universities and inter-university centres if payment was not made.
However, six weeks after this deadline passed, the government still has not met its obligation.
“In light of this, we inform the government of the decision made at the National JAC of NASU and SSANU meeting on September 12, 2024, which gives the government another three-week final ultimatum starting September 17, 2024, to pay the four months of withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on August 20, 2022. If this is not done, our members may have no choice but to embark on an indefinite strike once the ultimatum expires.”
The unions acknowledged that President Tinubu had approved the payment of the outstanding salaries, but this approval had not been acted upon by the relevant government officials.
“We have credible information that the President approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as early as July 18, 2024, during the national minimum wage meeting with the leadership of the NLC and TUC.
“Recently, we also learned that the President approved the actual release of these payments. Unfortunately, despite these approvals, nothing has been received,” both unions said in September.