Respite for Nigerian Universities As NASU, SSANU Suspend Strike For One Month
A Temporary Respite Has Descended on the Raging Unease Ravaging Federal Universities in Nigeria As SSANU and NASU Announced the Suspension of their Ongoing Indefinite Strike for One Month, Giving The FG Another Chance to Pay Up Their Remaining Months of Withheld Salaries
By: Olufemi Orunsola
The on-going indefinite nation-wide strike embarked upon by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), of educational and associated institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) has been suspended for month.
In the latest joint statement released by the bodies sighted by OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News, the union said the suspended strike would take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
The statement, signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, reads in part: “The national leadership of the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the universities and inter-university centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action."
It further reads, "You will recall that the ongoing strike action foisted on us commenced on Monday, October 28, 2024, as a result of government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands."
“During this industrial struggle, we have had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services"
The statement therefore reveals that, "These high-level engagements culminated in extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that the 2 months of the 4 months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form, one month by the end of October 2024 (which has largely been done), then the second month is to be paid by the end of November 2024."
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.
"We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N50 billion earned allowances, arrears of 25/35 per cent and the wage award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.”
OTN News recalls that the union leaders in previous swift reaction to the payment of one month out their four months withheld salaries by the Federal Government had vowed to continue their strike until all their demands were met.
Given the latest middle ground position of the union based negotiations and re-negotiations with the new leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education and other critical agents of government, it is hoped that normalcy returns to the running of public universities in Nigeria.
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