The head of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has urged the government to pay the four months' salaries that were not given to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions.
This comes after SSANU/NASU started a seven-day warning strike on Monday.
SSANU and NASU's Joint Action Committee had been asking the government for a month to include them in the payment of the withheld salaries, which were already paid to the Academic Staff Union of Universities in February.
Their salaries were held back when the former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration enforced a 'No Work, No Pay policy' against the Academic Staff Union of Universities and SSANU, who went on strikes lasting eight months and four months in 2022 respectively.
In a statement released on Monday, Ajaero said, “We stand with our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, in demanding the immediate payment of their members' withheld salaries.
“There has been no valid reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.
This action caused severe hardship for the members.
“It makes no sense to subject members of these unions to unfair treatment. By doing so, the government is clearly inviting unnecessary labor disputes. At a time when public universities are regaining confidence, the least the government can do is avoid another strike.
“The consequences for all parties would be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who have to travel on dangerous roads. Considering this, we urge the government to promptly settle the outstanding payments and caution against underestimating the maturity of these unions.
