Varsity workers declare national protest over withheld salaries

Workers in the Nigerian Universities, on Sunday, declared a nationwide protest starting from Thursday July 18, 2024, over their 4 months withheld salaries. The workers, under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, said their meeting with the government officials have collapsed. […]

Workers in the Nigerian Universities, on Sunday, declared a nationwide protest starting from Thursday July 18, 2024, over their 4 months withheld salaries.

The workers, under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, said their meeting with the government officials have collapsed.

The two unions operating under the auspices of Joint Action Committee (JAC) disclosed this in a circular jointly signed by the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim.

The circular directed all branches of the two unions to hold a mandatory general meeting on Monday July 8, 2024 to sensitize members on the insensitivity of government to our plights.

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According to it, the actions are being taken after the federal government’s failure to resolve the pending issues despite several meetings scheduled with the Minister of Education and its Labour counterpart.

The circular read, “The National body of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, 4th July, 2024 to appraise and take position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in University and Inter-University Centres.

“Similarly, the National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC).

“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.

“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and as usual, the Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa.

“The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised. In view of this disappointment and failure of Government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of Industrial actions which include the following:

“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024 to sensitize members on the insensitivity of Government to our plights.

“A ONE DAY protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and the press or media is adequately mobilized.

“A NATIONAL PROTEST which will hold in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July, 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.”