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Strike Imminent As SSANU, NASU Give FG Final Ultimatum

Published

2 months ago

Sep 19, 2024.

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a fresh strike threat, stating that their members will down tools if their demands are not met within three weeks.

In a joint statement signed by SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the unions expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address their grievances.

They noted that an initial 10-day grace period, which was given to the government to fulfill its obligations, expired on July 26, 2024, without any concrete action being taken.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the statement highlighted that despite six weeks passing since the expiration of the grace period, the government has yet to meet their demands, which include the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements between the unions and the government.

As a result, the unions have now issued a final ultimatum, warning that if the federal government fails to act within the new three-week grace period, they will have no option but to shut down universities and inter-university centers nationwide.

“It is in light of the above that we inform the government of the decision of the National JAC of NASU and SSANU, at the meeting held on 12th September 2024, that the government is given a final three-week ultimatum from Tuesday, 17th September 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on 20th August 2022.

“Failing this, our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” Ibrahim said.

The unions also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Strike SSANU NASU

“However, they lamented that despite the president’s directive, no payment has been made.

“We have it on good authority that Mr. President approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as far back as 18th July 2024, at the National Minimum Wage meeting with the NLC and TUC leadership.

“Recently, we also heard that Mr. President has approved the actual release of the payment. Regrettably, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement added.

The unions are demanding that the government urgently address these issues, including the implementation of the 2009 agreements and the payment of earned allowances.