In response to unresolved issues with the Federal Government, the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities will begin an indefinite strike on Sunday night.
According to The, the action follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the government, demanding the payment of withheld salaries, improved remuneration, and adherence to a 2009 agreement on earned allowances and other benefits.
A statement, signed by SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, indicated that the government had not met their demands despite multiple deadlines, dialogues, and assurances.
“We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response,” the statement read.
The unions are particularly calling for the payment of four months of withheld salaries, which were initially held under the “No Work, No Pay” policy imposed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment during a previous strike involving university-based unions in 2022.
Members of NASU and SSANU in universities and inter-university centers nationwide are instructed to convene a joint congress on Monday, October 28, to finalize the indefinite strike action.
“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches,” the unions emphasized, noting that state-owned universities could also incorporate their specific local demands into the strike.
The strike action comes after a peaceful protest in July, during which the unions gave a 10-day warning to the government to address outstanding salary payments or risk disruption of university operations.
