The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have issued a fresh strike threat, giving the federal government a final three-week ultimatum to meet their demands, Okay.ng reports.
In a joint statement signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the university unions warned that they would embark on an indefinite strike if their demands, including the payment of withheld salaries, are not met within the stipulated timeframe.
The unions noted that an initial 10-day grace period, which ended on 26th July 2024, expired without any action from the government. Since then, over six weeks have passed with no resolution to their grievances.
The statement reads: “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.”
Among the unions’ core demands are the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the federal government.
The unions revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the withheld salaries during a National Minimum Wage meeting on 18th July 2024 with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) leadership.
However, despite the president’s approval, the payment has not been released.
“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.“
