The non-academic staff of Nigerian universities under the umbrellas of the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions has declared their readiness to proceed on an indefinite strike over non-payment of their outstanding salaries.
The university workers who gave the Federal Government three weeks to avert the strike demanded among other things, the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, had invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy when the four university-based unions embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022.
In a statement jointly signed by SSANU President, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions noted that the Federal Government was given a 10-day grace period, which expired on 26th July 2024, to pay the four months of outstanding salaries to university staff, with the threat of shutting down universities and inter-university centres if payment was not made.
However, six weeks after the grace period elapsed, the government has yet to fulfill this obligation.
“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 statement added that, during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries on 18th July 2024, following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
“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.
