The Joint Action Committee, comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), announced an indefinite shutdown of university operations nationwide beginning Monday (today).
This action follows the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Federal Government over withheld salaries and other outstanding demands.
A statement released on Sunday, signed by SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, expressed frustration over the government’s delay.
“The ultimatum given to the Federal Government over our withheld salaries expired at midnight on Sunday,” the statement read. The unions are demanding payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
The unions’ statement emphasized the mandatory nature of the strike for all NASU and SSANU members across federal and state universities. “Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in Federal and State Owned Universities as well as Inter-University Centres,” it stated.
The unions highlighted the Federal Government’s repeated failure to meet their demands despite various warning strikes, protests, and ultimatums. At a national protest on July 18, a final 10-day ultimatum was issued, warning that failure to address the withheld salaries would result in an indefinite shutdown.
“It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums thereafter with no positive result from the government,” the unions noted, adding, “This is to direct all our members to hold a joint congress on their respective campuses and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive, and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise.”
With SSANU members responsible for essential services on campus, including water supply, electricity, internet, and security, the strike threatens to cripple university activities nationwide.
“Our members are in charge of water supply, electricity, communication, internet supply, security, finance,” said SSANU President Ibrahim, adding, “If they pay this money tomorrow (today), we will call off the strike.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the Federal Ministry of Education were unsuccessful. In previous attempts to resolve the dispute, the unions had reached out to the Ministry and other government officials, and President Tinubu reportedly approved the withheld payments. However, the unions say they have seen no tangible results from these assurances.
The unions’ statement concluded by calling on all members to take necessary action immediately: “We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience… This indefinite strike action will commence without any further concessions.”
