Cross Udo, Abuja
Indications emerged yesterday that another round of strikes are looming in the public universities over the alleged inability of the Federal Government to conclude re-negotiations with the university-based unions on the 2009 Agreement.

This came just as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) lamented that it has lost so many of its members as a result of the failure of the government to pay the four months of withheld salaries during the strike period.

Recall that the four university-based unions, SSANU, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) had last year, shut down public universities over the inability of the government to attend to their demands.

ASUU precisely withdrew its services on February 14, 2022, and was followed by NAAT after many weeks and then SSANU and NASU.

While SSANU and NASU called off their strike in August last year after they reached an agreement with the Federal Government, ASUU remained adamant until the intervention of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the striking lecturers to go back to their duty posts in October.

As the case instituted by the Federal Government against ASUU is still pending in court, it was reliably gathered that another round of storm is gathering momentum in the universities over the alleged delay by the Federal Government to conclude discussions with the unions on the 2009 Agreement.

In a communique at its 42nd Regular National Executive Council, NEC, meeting hosted by the University of Calabar, Cross River State, SSANU demanded immediate resumption and conclusion of re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement.

The National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, told journalists, “The earlier we conclude this re-negotiation and sign a new agreement, the better for the university system.”

In the communique, SSANU had said, “NEC in session is deeply peeved by the nonchalant and detached attitude of the Federal Government towards the long-standing issue of renegotiating the 2009 Agreement.

“Renegotiation of the Agreement is overdue by 12 years. This is against the statutory five years agreed for periodic review. It is most disheartening and appalling the way Federal Government is handling the issue.

“We are seriously disturbed by government reluctance despite SSANU’s readiness in ensuring that this matter is urgently concluded. NEC therefore, demands the immediate resumption and conclusion of this exercise without any further delay as the content of the current Agreement has been eroded by the harsh economic situation occasioned by the hyperinflation and its effect on workers.”

Speaking on the withheld four-month salary which the government refused to pay due to the invocation of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy while the unions went on strike, SSANU President said it was unfair for the government not to pay members their salary.

According to him, “We have lost many members as a result of the non-payment of the four months’ salary. This non-payment of salary resulted in a lot of health-threatening issues.”

The SSANU boss said that the union went on strike because of the failure of the government to address their concerns and that the union followed all the laid down Labour laws before embarking on the strike.

He contended that withholding their salary multiplies the problems in society and compounds the stress his members are facing on issues of house rents, payments of loans, and undertaking societal obligations among others.

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*Strike: SSANU kicks as FG plans to pay CONUA withheld salary

Meanwhile, members of SSANU have expressed disappointment with the Federal Government over the decision to pay the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) the withheld salaries during the last year’s strike embarked on by University workers excluding members of the union.

The Federal Government has approved payment of the withheld salaries and check-off dues to members of CONUA and has written to the union which broke away from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and was registered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2022 to supply the necessary information to facilitate payment of the salaries.

The letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Department of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System Department, with the Ref No: OAGF/IPPIS/1045/1/67 and dated January 13, 2023, was signed by Charles Wall, Director, IPPIS and sent to the President, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Department of Physics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

With the title: “Re-Submission of University Academics (CONUA) membership list for the payment of withheld salaries and check-off dues”, CONUA was directed to submit all the necessary information that would facilitate payment of the withheld salaries.

The letter read: “I am directed to a knowledge receipt of your letter on the above subject matter dated 2nd November 2022 in respect of payment of your withheld backlog of salaries and request you to provide the soft copy of membership of CONUA across universities to enable payment as requested.

“Meanwhile, you may wish to forward the following details to facilitate seamless deduction and remittance of check-off dues.

“Evidence of registration, official account details of the union, membership list of the union signed by each member, percentage of deduction (check-off dues) amount to be deducted from each member, mode of remittance between the headquarters and local chapters.

“Please note that details of members which must always be hard and soft copies should also include individual IPPIS numbers for ease of identification. While we appreciate your understanding, kindly accept the assurances of the warm regard of the Accountant General of the Federation.”

Reacting to this development, the National President of SSANU, Ibrahim, noted with dismay that the government has introduced divide and rule in the university system.

He said that SSANU followed all the due process as prescribed by the Labour laws before embarking on the strike, adding that his union was forced as a result of the failure of the government to go on strike.