Gbenro Adesina
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have announced the commencement of an indefinite strike action from February 5, 2021 following the failure to reach an agreement with the Federal Government.
This was confirmed in a statement released by the unions on Thursday.
The notice read in part, “In view of the outcome of the meeting, the leadership of JAC of NASU and SSANU at the branches are hereby directed to commence joint general meetings on Friday to give reports on the outcome of the conciliation meeting and pass resolutions on the way forward.
“In the meantime, the nationwide strike takes effect from 12 midnight, Friday, February 5, 2021, pending any contrary resolution by the branches.”
The strike action is a response to the Federal Government’s failure to address any of the issues contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both parties had reached and signed back in October 2020.
According to the unions, the issues for which the Memorandum of Agreement were entered into include inconsistencies in IPPIS payments, non-payment of Earned Allowances, non-payment of arrears in minimum wage.
Others include: “Delay in the renegotiation of FGN, NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement, non-payment of retirement benefits of outgone members, Teaching Staff usurping Headships of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of Service and established procedures”, neglect and poor funding of state universities and the non-constitution of visitation panels for universities.
