The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) stated that the ongoing strike is a significant, long-term issue affecting university executives, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars.
The JAC of SSANU and NASU commenced an indefinite strike on Monday due to the federal government’s withholding of salaries for four months. Consequently, universities across the country have come to a standstill.
In an interview on Wednesday, SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim confirmed that the lack of payment affected senior university officials as well. He emphasized that universities would remain closed until the withheld salaries are disbursed.
Ibrahim further mentioned that there is strong adherence to the strike nationwide, with widespread participation across universities. He added that the unions have not received any response, invitation, or intervention from the government to address the situation.
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 We have withdrawn our services, and our members are resolute they will not return to work until all salaries are paid.”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 that compliance with the strike was encouraging, achieving 98 percent adherence.
“We have achieved 98 per cent compliance with the strike; it is a total strike if you look around. The remaining two per cent are those who held their congress today, and they will join fully tomorrow,” he said.
Both Ibrahim and the Vice President of SSANU, Abdussobur Salaam, noted that the government had not officially responded to the strike.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, was relieved of his position last week, and a new minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, is expected to take over today. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive that former ministers hand over by October 30.
Prof Mamman was among the five ministers relieved of their positions by the President after a Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday.
One of the issues facing the substantive minister, Dr Alausa, as he assumes duty today is the SSANU and NASU strike.
Salaam, however, said the government had not officially communicated with the union regarding its ongoing strike.
“There’s no update on the ongoing strike, it continues. Some informal contacts were made between the minister of state for education and our union executives, but there’s been no real progress, just an informal appeal.
“This issue has persisted for a long time, with repeated promises that have not been fulfilled.
“All our ultimatums have expired, and we still haven’t received any alerts. The recent invitation was just an informal call on the phone. We urge the authorities to take decisive action; we have come too far and can no longer accept empty promises. If we don’t get the alerts we won’t back down, Salaam said.
A statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday and signed by National President, SSANU, Ibrahim and General Secretary, NASU, Peters Adeyemi, said the ultimatum it gave the Federal Government over its withheld salaries expired on Sunday midnight.
The unions were demanding, among others, the payment of the four-month withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
