By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have directed their members to resume duty immediately after the successful execution of the seven-day warning strike.
The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also directed its members to resume duty today (Monday) and has also given the Federal Government two weeks to pay for the withheld salaries.
This came as the House of Representatives Committees on Education invited the three university-based non-teaching staff unions and the Minister of Education to a meeting on Wednesday.
Recall that NASU and SSANU through JAC declared a seven-day warning strike which started on Monday, March 18, and ended on Sunday night over their exclusion in the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as directed by President Bola Tinubu, while NAAT also declared a three-day warning strike which started on Wednesday.
Academic and administrative activities were paralyzed last week as a result of the strike and examinations in some of the universities were affected.
Besides, university clinics were shut down, while water supply in the universities was also cut, a development that led to students going outside their hostels and university environment in search of water.
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But the JAC of SSANU and NASU in a circular to all branch chairmen dated March 24, has directed members in the universities and Inter-University centres to resume duty today.
The circular titled: “Re: Seven-Days Warning Strike”, and signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, reads in parts:
“The leadership of the National Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) acknowledge and commend the courage, tenacity, commitment, and resoluteness of members of the two Unions in effectively prosecuting the seven-day warning strike action across the branches.
“After evaluating the seven-day warning strike that commenced on Monday, 18th March 2024, the JAC confirmed that the tempo of the warning strike has been massive, comprehensive, and total in most of our Universities and Inter-University Centres.
“It, therefore, salutes the dedication, resoluteness, and loyalty of members to the cause of the Union’s struggle for the payment of four months’ withheld salaries. We are proud of your concerted efforts.
“Consequently, you are hereby informed that the 7-day warning strike shall end at midnight of Sunday, 24th March 2024 and normal work will resume on Monday, 25th March 2024.
“While assuring you that the struggle for the payment of the 4 months’ withheld salaries is ongoing, further issues such as Renegotiation of the Year 2009 FGN/NASU and SSANU Agreements, Payment of N50bn Earned Allowances, and others will continue to receive the same attention.
“Therefore, JAC leadership will continue meaningful engagement with the relevant government agencies in both executive and legislative arms and you will be duly notified of the next line of action(s) to be taken. Finally, we appreciate your unflinching support and unalloyed cooperation in this regard.”
*To meet Reps c’ttee over four months withheld salary Wednesday
Meanwhile, the President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, yesterday said that his association has suspended the warning strike and will be meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education on Wednesday afternoon.
The Reps Committee, it was learnt invited the three university-based unions that went on strike alongside the Minister of Education to find an amicable resolution of the issues that led to the strike.
The NAAT President said, “We have suspended the strike and directed our members to resume duty immediately. We have also given the government two weeks to pay us the withheld salaries. But if the government fails to pay us after the two weeks, we will decide on it.”
