On Sunday, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) ended their seven-day warning strike.
In a circular addressed to branch chairmen at public universities nationwide, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim instructed members of both unions to return to work starting Monday, March 25, 2024.
It partly read:
“The tempo of the warning strike has been massive, comprehensive and total in most of our universities and inter-universities centres.
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“Dedication, resoluteness and loyalty of members to the cause of the union’s struggle for the payment of four months’ withheld salaries.
“Consequently, you are hereby informed that the seven-day warning strike shall end at midnight of Sunday, 24th March 2024 and normal work will resume on Monday, 25th March 2024.”
The strike, which began on Monday, March 18, 2024, was triggered by withheld salaries affecting workers in various departments, including registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs.
SSANU and NASU united in their protest against the Federal Government’s failure to disburse owed wages.
The unions lamented frustration at the government’s preferential treatment of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which received its withheld salaries. In contrast, SSANU and NASU felt neglected.
In 2022, the unions embarked on an eight-month strike to advocate for improved welfare conditions.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari responded with a ‘No Work, No Pay policy,’ but last October, President Bola Tinubu authorized the release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries.
Accusing the Federal Government of unfair treatment and discrimination, SSANU and NASU issued an initial notice on March 11, 2024.
A week later, they followed through on their threat, disrupting university operations by shutting down hostels, power supply, security, and administrative functions across the country.
The Labor Minister, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, however, criticized the unions’ actions, describing them as a total disregard for the government’s efforts to address their concerns.
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