SSANU, NASU to embark on 7-day warning strike over withheld salaries

By Ukpono Ukpong

Non-teaching staff unions in Nigerian universities have declared a seven- day warning strike following the federal government’s failure to pay their members the four months withheld salaries despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

The affected unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU).

This was part of the resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the unions held in Akure, Ondo State.

In a communique released shortly after the meeting, the unions described government’s decision to withhold four months salaries of their members as an open invitation to industrial crisis.

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“The National Executive Council (NEC) in session seriously frowns at the latest action of government which excluded SSANU and other non-teaching university based unions from the payment of four months withheld salaries arising from the nationwide strike action embarked upon by all unions in our public universities.

“While SSANU is not averse to the payment of the withheld salary to our sister union, ASUU, it however views this action as a clear violation and a breach of the post-strike agreement with government on non-victimisation of our members who participated in the strike.

“We strongly oppose this discriminatory practice which we view as government’s open invitation to industrial crisis.

“Credible information available to us has it that the directive of Mr. President is for all university-based unions to be paid four months’ salary.

“NEC, therefore suspects saboteurs in this government bent on destabilising and destroying the good intent of Mr. President towards sustaining industrial peace in the university system.

“NEC in session therefore calls on the relevant authorities of government to immediately implement the directive of Mr. President by paying our members the four months withheld salaries, failing which NEC has approved a one week warning strike in conjunction with our sister unions in JAC, NASU.”

Furthermore, NEC lamented that over six months since government awarded a wage increase of 25 and 35 per cent to her members, the wage award has not been implemented even though the sum of 100 billion naira was provided for in the budget for that purpose.

“NEC in session therefore demands the implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent wage award by factoring it into the monthly salaries of our members, and payment of the arrears arising therefrom, as the value of that increase has already been eroded and any further delay will drastically reduce the purchasing power and value of the money.

“We demand this implementation before renegotiation of the new national minimum wage for which government has already set up a committee.

“NEC also demands that government expedite action on the renegotiation of the new national minimum wage as the current national minimum wage has completely been made useless by the hyperinflation currently ravaging the country.

“NEC in session noted with dismay the continued delay by government, despite several letters and correspondences and interactions written to it to pay our members the outstanding earned allowances. We are aware that the sum of N50 billion was appropriated in the 2023 budget for this purpose.

“NEC, therefore calls on government to as a matter of urgency, release the already appropriated funds for payment of earned allowances to our members to avert any industrial disharmony in the university system.

“NEC in session observed that some of her members are yet to be paid arrears of the national minimum wage which was approved in 2018 despite the efforts of the union.

“NEC therefore calls on federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency commence payment

“NEC in session expresses dismay at the near total collapse of national security. Despite the numerous government attempts and promises, armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits and other terrorist organisations continue to rampantly steal, abduct, rape and kill hapless Nigerians on a daily basis.

“Citizens can hardly sleep with their eyes closed. SSANU and other university-based unions are not spared in this horrendous experience. NEC, therefore, strongly urges the government to immediately stem this odious tide by adequately funding the security agencies to enable procurement of modern equipment to tackle these insurgencies.

“More so, government should initiate recruitment of more policemen and women, and other security agents whose current numerical strength is grossly inadequate to cope with the security challenges of over 200 million Nigerians. Such recruitment exercise should be transparently conducted to pave way for willing and able bodied Nigerians who wish to be recruited into the security forces, rather than politicising the process. Funds meant for security should be strictly monitored to forestall diversion of same.

“NEC in session observes with grave concern the sliding economy that is hardly witnessing any steady growth. The national currency has been grossly devalued amid a volatile exchange rate. Inflation and unemployment rates are dangerously increasing, thereby further fuelling the unabated cost of living to unprecedented and unbearable levels. This trend, without doubt, is a gateway to insecurity and other social vices.

“NEC, therefore, calls on government to urgently arrest this terrible and unberable situation by introducing sound economic policies aimed at revamping this critically dysfunctional economy before it degenerates to an irredeemable level.”