Activities at University of Jos, Plateau State, were halted on Monday due to a seven-day strike by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of the institution.
During our correspondent's visit to the institution on Monday, the university gates were closed, and both staff and students attempting to enter were left stranded.
Last Monday, SSANU and NASU announced a seven-day warning strike.
The unions stated that this declaration was made to demand the release of four months' worth of unpaid salaries for their members by the Federal Government, following the 2022 nationwide strike.
Meanwhile, the National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, informed told The PUNCH on Sunday that the two unions were prepared for their nationwide strike.
However, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, claimed he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.
Nevertheless, in a letter jointly addressed by SSANU and NASU to the Vice Chancellor of the University, the chairman of the institution’s NASU branch, Monday Danjuma Kpaji, and his SSANU counterpart, Anthony T. Joro, stated that the seven-day strike, in line with the directive of their national secretariat, was to last for seven days.
The letter, which was also sent to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Services, was seen by our correspondent in Jos on Monday.
It mentioned, “We convey warm greetings from the secretariat of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, University of Jos branch.
“We officially inform you that our National Secretariat has commenced a seven-day warning strike from Monday, March 18 to Sunday, March 24, 2024.
“Therefore, please be aware that all our services will be suspended without any concessions, starting from midnight of Sunday, March 17, 2024, until Sunday, March 24, 2024.”
PUNCH Online previously reported that SSANU and NASU members at the University of Ilorin also began a strike on Monday in accordance with the national directives of the two unions.
