The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) have mobilised their members to stage a national protest on July 18, 2024.
The Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU has already asked each chapter of both unions to hold local protests on their campuses tomorrow, July 9.
Recall that the SSANU and NASU leaderships have been battling the Federal Government to pay their four-month salary arrears since they joined an indefinite strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 2022.
While President Bola Tinubu directed that the affected employees be paid their salaries, SSANU and NASU members are yet to get theirs, several months after the directive was made.
Only recently, when both unions threatened to go on strike if their demands were not met, the Federal Government called them to a meeting with the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir, in an attempt to avoid the walkout.
A joint notice for members to proceed with the protest, issued by General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and President of SSANU, Com. Mohammed Ibrahim, on Sunday, stated, “The national body of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, July 4, 2024, to appraise and take position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in university and inter-university centres.
“The National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC).
“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education did not show any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the Villa.
“The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.
“In view of this disappointment and failure of government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions which include the following.
“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024, to sensitise members on the insensitivity of government to our plights.
“A one day protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest.
“A national protest will hold in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July, 2024, after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately”.