The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing both the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), began an indefinite strike on Monday.
This action follows a seven-day deadline given to the Nigerian Government to address withheld salaries, which expired at midnight on Sunday.
The strike results from the government’s failure to pay university staff salaries held back during a prolonged strike in 2022, despite repeated requests and the implementation of a “No Work, No Pay” policy.
SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, noted that the government was given sufficient time to resolve the matter.
Earlier this year, the unions extended a 10-day grace period to the government, which ended on July 26, 2024, requesting the release of four months’ worth of unpaid salaries.
Now, with no progress, the unions are moving forward with the indefinite strike, which is expected to impact the education sector significantly, though it’s uncertain how long it will last.
A statement from the Joint Action Committee, dated October 21, 2024, and titled “Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months’ Salaries,” outlined the union’s frustration.
It explained that the government had seven days to fulfill the unions’ demands, including paying the outstanding salaries and upholding an August 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, which was set to expire by midnight on October 27, 2024.
Due to the lack of response, the unions directed members at universities and inter-university centers nationwide to convene and begin a full, indefinite strike on Monday, October 28, 2024.
The strike extends to state-owned universities, where they may add local grievances to the protest.
The statement reads, “The last circular of the Joint Action Committee of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities titled, ‘Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months’ Salaries’ referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/32 dated 21st October 2024 refers.
“The circular under reference gave seven days to the Federal Government to do the needful in respect of our demands for payment of outstanding four months’ salaries and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sighed with the Federal Government on 20th August 2022 which expires midnight of Sunday, 27th October 2024.
“It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums thereafter with no positive result from the Government, it is therefore obvious that Government is not positively disposed to our rightful and legitimate demands in spite of several interactions, dialogues, exchange of correspondences and assurances of payment all to no avail.
“We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response to our demands by the Government.
“In view of this, this is to direct all our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres throughout the country to hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 28th October, 2024 and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise.
“All the State-Owned Universities can also incorporate their local demands into this strike action as appropriate.”
“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in both Federal and State-Owned Universities as well as Inter-University Centres,” it added.
This comes seven months after the SSANU and the NASU embarked on a nationwide strike over alleged unfair treatment and discrepancies in salary payments by the Federal Government.
