SSANU and NASU Threaten Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries, Issue Ultimatum to Government

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not paid within three weeks.

The unions are demanding the payment of four months' withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government. The Federal Government had previously invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during a prolonged strike by university-based unions in 2022.

In a statement signed by SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions noted that the government was given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to address the outstanding salaries. Despite this deadline passing, the government has yet to fulfill the payment obligation.

The unions have now issued a final three-week ultimatum from September 17, 2024. If the demands are not met, they may initiate indefinite strike action. The statement also highlighted that President Bola Tinubu approved the payment on July 18, 2024, but no payment has been made to date despite this approval.

The unions warned that if the government fails to act within the given timeframe, universities and inter-university centers may face a shutdown.