The NASU strike has been suspended after a mutually agreeable negotiations with the FG.
The non-academic staff of Nigerian public universities (NASU) announced the suspension of the indefinite strike from Tuesday, 5 November.
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) announced this conclusion in a strike update sent to their chairperson’s branches nationwide on Sunday.
Students are reportedly glad about the suspension of the NASU strike
The suspension comes a day after the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, said the payments to NASU members had started, with many staff confirming their salaries and benefits.
It is safe to say that the suspended NASU strike was achieved because they reached a mutual agreement with the FG.
While stating its dedication to addressing fixed financial responsibility within the federal institutions, the Office of the Accountant-General also confirms the government’s devotion to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
The statement which was jointly signed by the SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi noted that the decision to suspend the NASU strike followed “several extensive and exhaustive deliberations” with the top government officials, including the new Minister of Education, and the Minister of Finance.
The unions noted that through these engagements, they secured an “irrevocable commitment” from the federal government to release two months’ worth of withheld salaries in batches —one month by the end of October which has been largely fulfilled and the second month by the end of November. This agreement was what led to the suspension of the NASU strike
The press release also emphasized on the ongoing discussions with the government continue regarding the remaining two months’ withheld salaries, the N50 billion in Earned Allowances, the arrears of 25/35 percent, and a proposed Wage Award.
“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these developments and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining 2 months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.”
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