Withheld Salaries: UNN SSANU, NASU join nationwide warning strike

Withheld Salaries: UNN SSANU, NASU join nationwide warning strike

Administrative activities on Monday in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) are grounded following the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) and Non-academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU) joining the 7-day nationwide warning strike declared by the Joint Action Committee of the two unions.

SSANU and NASU said the aim of the warning strike is to protest against the Federal Government’s failure to pay its members the four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.

Addressing members during an emergency congress on Monday in UNN, Dr. Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN flanked by Comrade Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN said that the aim of the congress was to tell their members about the 7-day nationwide warning strike declared by the joint action committee of the two union.

Akata said that the strike will be total and comprehensive in adherence to the directive of the national body.

He said that all the administrative offices and essential service sections of the university were already under lock and key, and warned that the unions would deal decisively with any defaulting member.

“We are embarking on a 7-day warning strike to seek redress for the perceived injustice and discrepancies in the payment of salaries.

“Members are directed to home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the 7-day warning strike elapses, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.

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“This warning strike is total and comprehensive as the administrative block of the University, works department, university medical center, primary school, and other essential sections have been shut down till the end of the strike.

“There will be no water and electricity supply from the University to the hostels, also, internet service from the University IT section will be shut down for the period,” he said.

The SSANU chairman said that they have no apology for this 7-day warning strike as their national body has done everything necessary to avert the strike by appealing to the Federal Government to do the needful.

“SSANU and NASU have written so many letters to the Federal Government, held several press conferences, and led delegations to government officials in a bid to persuade the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries, all to no avail.

“Nigerian government should explain to our members why salaries withheld from SSANU and NASU members remained unpaid while those of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were disbursed.

“After this warning strike, if the Federal Government did not meet our demand we will wait for our national body for the next line of action,” he said.

Akata urged their members to remain in their homes for the period of the strike and also report any threat or query for not reporting to work from management, head of department, or faculty to the union, stressing that the struggle is for the rights and welfare of their members.

He said further that the two unions have set up a joint monitoring team to ensure total compliance in the University.

Some of the student interviewed about the 7-day warning strike expressed their concern and regretted that they were at the receiving end of the warning strike.

They appealed to the federal government to quickly resolve the issue to enable them to continue with their smooth academic activities and their comfort in the campus.

Withheld Salaries: UNN SSANU, NASU join nationwide warning strike