Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has urged the Federal Government to pay the four months' salaries that were kept back from the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions.
In response to the seven-day warning strike launched by SSANU/NASU on Monday, which has brought university activities to a standstill nationwide, Ajaero made this call.
For about a month, SSANU and NASU have been requesting the government to include them in the payment of withheld salaries, which the government started paying to the Academic Staff Union of Universities in February.
Their salaries were withheld when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari enforced a 'No Work, No Pay policy' against the Academic Staff Union of Universities and SSANU for going on a strike that lasted eight months and four months in 2022 respectively.
Ajaero, in a statement, mentioned, “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 the withheld salaries of their members.
“There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.
We remember that this action caused extreme hardship for the members.
“Even worse, it makes no sense to try to treat members of these unions differently. By doing this, the government is inviting unnecessary industrial disputes. At a time when public universities are regaining trust, the least the government can do is to not cause another strike. The impact on all parties will be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who bear the burden of traveling on dangerous roads. In light of this, we urge the government to promptly pay the outstanding salaries. We advise the government not to underestimate the maturity of these unions.”
Meanwhile, Muhammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, revealed that the strike was 90 per cent successful and that its members were frustrated.
Ibrahim expressed to The PUNCH: “I want to believe that those in government should grasp the reality and if they truly prioritize education for the public, they should act accordingly. The president already has a clearance for us to be paid, but some individuals chose not to pay us.
“They seem to think we are less important or unimportant, or they think that the university only revolves around ASUU. They need to realize that this is a recipe for trouble. When there is no water or electricity on campus, and we remove security staff from the gate while our students are on campus, then they will understand that it's a serious issue.
We have achieved 90 per cent success and our people are angry; they are not happy. It is clear injustice.”
On Monday, the strike by NASU and SSANU brought activities on university campuses in several states to a halt.
At the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Mr Zuberu Ibrahim, the NASU Chairman, stated that the strike was successful as members of the two unions fully complied with the directive from the national body.”The members' adherence to the strike is complete. We held a meeting at the university gate early on Monday before members dispersed to their respective homes, and this will continue over the next seven days.”
At the University of Jos in Plateau State, members of the SSANU and NASU stopped activities at the school on Monday.
When our reporter went to the institution, the university’s gates were closed and both staff and students who tried to enter were stuck at the entrance.
In a letter to the Vice Chancellor of the university, the chairman of NASU, Monday Kpaji, and the chairman of SSANU, Anthony T. Joro, stated that the strike would last for seven days following their national secretariat's directive.
At the Joseph Sawuan Tarka University in Makurdi, formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, the strike was also observed.
Our reporter, who visited the school, noted that the two unions began the strike after an emergency meeting on Monday.
In Makurdi, SSANU and NASU, in a letter signed by the union chairpersons Kpamor Ruth and Saa Moses, said they waited patiently until the ultimatum expired without a positive response to their demands.
At the University of Abuja, members of SSANU blocked the entrance to the university gate on Monday.
Similar situation occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the two unions disrupted academic activities.
The institution’s SSANU Secretary, Bonny Ozonkwuaku, told journalists at the campus, “At the moment, all our offices, classrooms, faculties, departments, work and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs units are all locked and will remain so for the next seven days unless the necessary action is taken.
“The Federal Government is disregarding and mistreating the non-teaching staff, and we are opposed to that. Members of the unions have not received their arrears for 2022.”
At the Federal University of Technology, Akure, SSANU and NASU members gathered at the university’s main entrance, disrupting normal school activities.
The Chairman of SSANU, Felix Adubi, said, “We stopped the administrative and technical services on the campus and this will continue tomorrow.”
At the Olusegun Agagu University of Technology, Okitipupa, the SSANU Chairman, Dayo Temola, said, “We are on strike because it is a harm to all of us.”
