The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) are poised to commence a nationwide strike today (Monday) to protest the withholding of their salaries for four months.
Muhammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, confirmed the news on Sunday that both unions were ready for the nationwide strike.
However, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister for Education, expressed ignorance regarding SSANU/NASU‘s planned strike, stating in a text message to one of our correspondents that he was unaware of any planned strike but acknowledged that the matter was receiving attention at the highest levels of government.
The Federal Government, implementing the no-work, no-pay policy, had withheld the salaries of university workers following a prolonged strike in 2021. Despite releasing four-month withheld salaries to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in February, the government omitted SSANU and NASU.
In response, the two unions demanded the release of their withheld salaries and issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening a nationwide strike if their demands were not met. Despite their efforts, there has been no positive response from the government.
In a statement on Sunday, SSANU’s Ibrahim stated that despite numerous appeals to government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President and the Minister of Education, their requests had been ignored.
Consequently, SSANU and NASU have directed their members in universities and inter-university centers nationwide to commence a seven-day warning strike, effective Monday, March 18, 2024.
Abdussobur Salaam, SSANU’s National Vice-President, lamented the government’s lack of engagement, emphasizing that they had received no offers or promises regarding the payment of their withheld salaries.
In his words:
“We have not heard anything from the government; they are not saying anything about payment of the salaries, no promises, no negotiation. We are not saying they should pay everything at once, at least they should show commitment, talk to us, and tell us when we should expect the payment, but nothing from them, they have been silent even after our warning strike press statement, still, nothing.”
He expressed disappointment in the government’s silence, despite the unions’ warnings and efforts to engage in dialogue.
