NASU, SSANU Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Universities across Nigeria are set to shut down as the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) initiates an indefinite strike starting today.

In a statement from SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions highlighted that the Federal Government’s ultimatum regarding withheld salaries expired at midnight on Sunday.

The unions are demanding the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, better remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.

In 2022, the Federal Government implemented the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy after university-based unions engaged in a prolonged strike. Last October, President Bola Tinubu directed the release of four out of eight months of withheld salaries for academic staff, which were finally disbursed in February. However, the directive did not include non-teaching staff, raising concerns about their situation. The unions condemned this as selective treatment and have since protested, issued ultimatums, and held warning strikes, yet their four months of salaries remain unpaid.

The unions called on state-owned universities to include local demands in their strike actions. The statement emphasized, “Your strict compliance with this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in Federal and State Owned Universities as well as Inter-University Centres.”

The last circular from the Joint Action Committee, dated October 21, 2024, gave the government seven days to address their demands for the payment of outstanding salaries and to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on August 20, 2022, which lapsed at midnight on October 27, 2024.

During a peaceful protest on July 18, 2024, the unions warned the government to pay the withheld salaries to avoid a shutdown of university activities. They expressed disappointment over the lack of response to multiple ultimatums and interactions with the government, leading them to declare an indefinite, comprehensive strike action effective today.

The SSANU members oversee critical services on campuses, which raises concerns about a complete standstill of university operations if the strike goes ahead. Ibrahim stated, “Our members manage water supply, electricity, communication, internet services, and security. If the government pays what is owed, we will call off the strike immediately.”

The strike coincides with President Tinubu directing outgoing Education Minister Prof. Mamman Tahir to hand over to incoming Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa on Wednesday.

As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain a response from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding the unions’ industrial action were unsuccessful. In March, the union initiated a one-week warning strike due to unaddressed letters sent to the education minister and the Chief of Staff to the President. In July, they organized a nationwide protest to draw attention to their plight.

After a July meeting, a spokesperson for the education ministry indicated that the withheld salaries were under review at the highest government levels. Earlier this month, the unions issued a seven-day ultimatum regarding the unpaid salaries, but this also failed to yield results.

The unions reiterated their discontent, stating, “It is disheartening that despite multiple ultimatums, the government remains unresponsive to our rightful and legitimate demands, despite numerous dialogues and assurances of payment that have not materialized.”

Last month, they announced plans for an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries were not paid within three weeks, emphasizing the need for improved remuneration, earned allowances, and adherence to the 2009 agreements with the government.

In a joint statement, SSANU’s Ibrahim and NASU’s Adeyemi revealed that the government had previously been given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to pay the outstanding salaries, warning that failure to comply would lead to a shutdown of universities and inter-university centers.

Despite President Tinubu approving the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, the unions noted that relevant government officials had yet to implement this decision.

The unions stated, “We have credible information that the President approved the payment back in July, and recently we heard that he authorized the release of the funds. Unfortunately, we have seen no action taken despite these approvals.”