Unpaid Salaries: NASU, SSANU begin an Indefinite strike on Monday 28th October

NASU and SSANU strike update due to four (4) months of withheld salaries. 

The Joint Action Committee JAC of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU have declared a Nationwide indefinite strike which begins on Monday 28th October 2024. 

According to JAC, the strike was previously scheduled to commence on 23rd October in respect to the four (4) months’ salary that was withheld, but it was postponed because of the Trade Group Council meeting of NASU branches that was planned for the same date. 

On Sunday 27th October, the Joint Action Committee directed all members to proceed with a nationwide indefinite strike. 

The General Secretary of NASU Prince Peters Adeyemi and the president of SSANU Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim signed and disbursed a circular to all branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU in the universities and inter-university centres. 

The circular was titled “Latest development in respect of the withheld four (4) months salaries,” explaining why both unions deliberated to conclude the strike.

Despite President Bola Tinubu’s approval of 50 percent of the four (4) months’ withheld salary to be paid, up until now none of its members has received payment, as stated in the circular. 

According to the circular, several notices have been sent to the government about the situation and the decision to go on an indefinite strike, but the government did not take them seriously. 

The Union still accuses the government of insincerity in its implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Action (MoA) reached with the government.

The Trade Group Council Meeting of NASU branches in the Universities and Inter-University Centres held a meeting on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th October 2024 at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and the arrangements for the meeting have been concluded.

According to the circular, JAC has ordered all members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities to commence the strike on Monday. 

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The effect date was slated for Monday, so the Branch Officers of NASU would have returned to Abuja from their trip to Zaria. 

“We express our deepest appreciation for your steadfast commitment to the leadership and we affirm our determination to persist in this struggle until ultimate victory is secured,” it said.

NASU and SSANU strike update & Withheld salaries 

In 2022 NASU and SSANU embarked on an eight (8) months strike, putting all university activities in Nigeria on hold. 

But the strike was later lifted after the court ordered the suspension of the strike, at this point already the government had introduced the “No Work No Pay” policy. 

Thereby withholding salaries of the academic and non-academic staff during the eight-month strike. 

But in October, the President ordered four (4) months of the eight months withheld salaries to be paid to members of the union. 

But the union has come out to say up until now none of its members has yet to receive any payment from the federal government. 

According to the union the federal government has failed to implement the 2009 agreement between the Union and the Federal government.

The 2009 implementation was also the same reason that led to the strike in 2022, which led to the government withholding their salaries.

Before the dismissal of Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, a seven (7) man committee was established to re-negotiate the said 2009 agreement between NASU, SSANU, and the Federal government.

NASU and SSANU strike update: From Monday 28th, all university activities will be on hold until further notice from the union.