The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has directed its members to embark on a strike starting Monday, 18th March.
This decision comes as a result of the federal government’s failure to address the issues raised by the unions and the expiration of the ultimatum earlier issued to the government.
In a statement signed by NASU General Secretary, Peter Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to withhold four months’ salaries of their members. The statement noted that despite the ultimatum and the government’s failure to address the withheld salaries, the unions have decided to proceed with a 7-day warning strike starting Monday, March 18.
The unions emphasized that the strike would be total, with no concessions given. They had earlier threatened to close all university hostels and cut off all university power to press home their demands regarding the plight of their members.
In response to the ultimatum issued by the unions, the federal government assured that it would continue to engage with the two university-based labour unions. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known while addressing questions from journalists regarding the threatened strike action by the unions.