Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum

Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not paid within the next three weeks.

The unions are demanding the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.

The federal government had previously invoked the “No Work, No Pay” policy during a prolonged strike by four university-based unions in 2022.

In a statement signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions revealed that the government was initially given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to pay the outstanding salaries. Despite this, six weeks have passed without any resolution.

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“The government is hereby given a final three-week ultimatum, starting from Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on August 20, 2022.

“Should the government fail to meet these demands, our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” Ibrahim said.

The statement further noted that, during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“We have recently been informed that the President has approved the actual release of the payment. However, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement said.

Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum