SSANU Insists on Strike Continuation Until Salary Arrears Are Paid

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has doubled down on its stance, affirming it will not call off its ongoing strike until all outstanding salary arrears are cleared. SSANU, alongside the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), embarked on an indefinite strike action on Monday due to non-payment of four months' salary arrears.

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, made the union’s position clear during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, emphasizing that while meetings with government officials have been held, the unions are waiting for action, not promises. "So, it’s not the issue of meeting. The issue is that we want payment and that every procedure has been followed. They can just simply direct for this payment, and I assure you in less than 24 hours, we can just refer back to our principals and this strike will be suspended," he stated.

According to Ibrahim, SSANU members have been through cycles of unfulfilled promises by government officials, and this time, they are adamant that only concrete action will end the strike. "Assurances are not something that we have not received before. So assurances from politicians and assurances from government officials are not new things to us," he added.

The strike has caused a significant disruption in public universities nationwide, leaving academic activities halted, campuses closed, and facilities shut down.