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 issued a stern warning, announcing plans to commence an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not paid within three weeks.
The unions’ demands include the payment of four months of withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements made with the government.
This situation has been escalating since the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during the lengthy strikes by university-based unions in 2022.
In a joint statement signed by SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions pointed out that a 10-day grace period was provided to the government, which ended on July 26, 2024, to address the outstanding salaries.
They threatened to shut down universities and inter-university centers if the payments were not made.
“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,” said Ibrahim.
Despite assurances from the government, six weeks after the grace period, the required payments remain unpaid.
The unions have also highlighted that during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of the withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, after discussions with leaders from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
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“We have it on good authority that Mr. President 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 Mr. President has approved the actual release of the payment. Regrettably, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement added.
The situation is particularly troubling as the 2009 agreements, which were intended to address various issues concerning university staff, have yet to be implemented fully.
The unions’ leaders are urging the government to prioritize this matter, emphasizing that the livelihoods of their members depend on prompt and fair compensation.
If the situation is not resolved by the end of the ultimatum, the impending strike could have severe implications for the academic calendar and university operations across Nigeria.
