Strike negotiation: FG invites NASU and SSANU

The Federal Government invited the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions today, October 31, 2024, at 11 a.m. to discuss the ongoing strike.

According to report, SSANU vice-president Abdussobur Salaam disclosed on thursday morning, that the federal government had formally invited the union on wednesday evening.

“We received a formal invitation last night.

“The meeting is scheduled for 11 am today.

“It will be presided over by the minister of state for education and will be held in the minister’s conference room”, he stated.

Due to four months of delayed salaries, the unions under JAC launched an indefinite strike on monday, which caused university operations across the country to be suspended.

According to SSANU national president Mohammed Ibrahim, top university officials, such as vice chancellors, bursars, and registrars, have also not received their salaries, which further affected university operations.

He continued that 98% of members complied with the strike and will not go back to work until their demands are fulfilled.

He said: “It is a long-term battle because this strike also involves vice-chancellors, bursars, registrars, and other senior administrators who were not paid.

“The impact is significant, and no one from the government has reached out to us.

“We have withdrawn our services, and our members are resolute they will not return to work until all salaries are paid”, he added.

He went on to say that the strike’s 98 percent adherence rate was encouraging, as per report.

Among other things, the unions are calling for the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government, better compensation, earned allowances, and the payment of the four months’ worth of delayed earnings.

Earlier on strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) decided to embark on indefinite strike, which began on October 28, 2024.

The latest strike, according to reports, was based on the nonpayment of four months’ wage, which they have not received since joining the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) industrial action during the government of president Muhammadu Buhari.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff unions at universities, which coordinates actions, does not advise its members to go on strike nationwide.

The two union leaders’ strike talks was scheduled to begin on Sunday evening, October 27, 2024.

JAC sent out a circular with the following title to all branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU for universities and inter-university centers:

“The most recent development regarding the four (4) months of salaries that they hold”.

It described how the strike strategy for October 23rd was altered due to the NASU branches’ trade group council meeting on that date.

When Prince Peters Adeyemi, the General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the President of SSANU, sign the circular, they remark that the timing has changed to ensure that they can effectively coordinate and get both unions on the same page.

JAC regrets to inform you that, despite president Bola Tinubu’s approval to pay half of the four months’ salary that they have on hold, the claimed inaction of the finance minister raises doubts about the government’s willingness to resolving the issue.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook