National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has urged the Federal Government to promptly disburse the four months’ worth of withheld salaries owed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU). Ajaero’s call comes in response to the commencement of a seven-day warning strike initiated by SSANU/NASU on Monday, which halted activities across universities nationwide.
SSANU and NASU have been vocal about their exclusion from salary payments that were initiated for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in February. This exclusion stems from the implementation of a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against ASUU and SSANU by the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, following strikes lasting eight months and four months in 2022, respectively.
In a statement signed by Ajaero, he emphasized the unions’ demand for immediate payment of the withheld salaries, citing the unjustifiable hardship inflicted on their members. Ajaero underscored the need to avoid discriminatory treatment towards the unions, cautioning that such actions could lead to further industrial disputes detrimental to all parties involved.
Meanwhile, SSANU’s National President, Muhammed Ibrahim, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, citing the discontent and frustration among members who feel undervalued and neglected. He warned of potential repercussions should the grievances persist, highlighting the critical role of non-teaching staff in university operations.
The strike action initiated by NASU and SSANU resulted in significant disruptions across various university campuses nationwide. At the University of Ilorin and University of Jos, members of both unions complied with the strike directive, leading to the complete halt of activities. Similar scenes unfolded at the Joseph Sawuan Tarka University in Makurdi, the University of Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the Federal University of Technology in Akure, where SSANU and NASU members blocked entrances, effectively bringing administrative and academic functions to a standstill.
Addressing journalists, union representatives reiterated their resolve to continue the strike until their demands, including the payment of outstanding arrears, are met. They condemned the government’s perceived disregard for non-teaching staff and emphasized the collective nature of the grievances, stating that the strike was a response to the injustice experienced by all members.
