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) have announced plans to start an indefinite strike if their overdue salaries are not paid within three weeks.
The unions are demanding, among other things, the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, better remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
In response to a prolonged strike by the four university-based unions in 2022, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy.
In a joint statement from SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions pointed out that the Federal Government was given a 10-day grace period, which ended on July 26, 2024, to pay the four months of outstanding salaries. The unions warned of shutting down universities and inter-university centers if the payment was not made.
However, six weeks after the grace period expired, the government has still not met this obligation.
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“It is in light of the above that we inform the government of the decision of the National JAC of NASU and SSANU, at the meeting held on 12th September 2024, that the government is given a final three-week ultimatum from Tuesday, 17th September 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on 20th August 2022.
“Failing this, our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” Ibrahim said.
The statement also noted that during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, after discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
“We have it on good authority that Tinubu approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as far back as 18th July 2024 at the National Minimum Wage meeting with the NLC and TUC leadership.
“Recently, we also heard that Tinubu has approved the actual release of the payment. Regrettably, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement added.
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