Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union have begun a nationwide strike today (Monday) over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the Federal Government.
Members of the SSANU at the University of Abuja blocked the entrance to the gate of the university on Monday, in compliance with the 7-day warning strike.
Recall that, last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before today, March 18, 2024.
National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, said his members, including Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid 2022 arrears.
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Meanwhile, Tinubu had recently directed that university workers that were on prolonged strike in 2022 and had their salaries stopped by Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after the invocation of “No work, no pay” policy, should be paid four months of the withheld salaries.
While the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, members have since been paid, the non teaching staff comprising SSANU, NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, are yet to receive any payment.
On Sunday, Ibrahim revealed that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike. And today, in a Television interview, Ibrahim declared that the strike had started.
“As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done,” he stated.
He added that the Minister of Labour , Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has not reached out to the aggrieved unions despite issuing a seven-day notice last Monday.
He stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action should the government fail to heed the unions’ demands after the seven-day warning strike, which commenced today.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.