By Cross Udo, Abuja
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has approved a seven-day warning strike starting on March 18 over the Federal Government’s failure to pay its members the four months of withheld salaries.
The seven-day warning strike will commence after the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), ratifies the date this week.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had directed that workers in public universities that embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022 but were not paid salaries by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari during the strike should be paid for four months.
While the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has paid the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for four months as directed by the President, the three unions of non-teaching staff have yet to be paid.
At its 47th NEC at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, members of SSANU voted unanimously for a seven-day strike, which would be followed immediately by an indefinite strike if the government remains adamant.
Speaking after the decision was taken, the SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, said, “What played out at today’s meeting is that members have unanimously resolved that they will not accept this injustice meted on us because there is no explanation that can scientifically or naturally be given to anyone as to why one group of our staff is paid and then the other three groups are left.
“Therefore, we have given the next week, during which members will return to their branches and sensitize our members. This time around, it is going to be a total strike. For seven days, there will be no water, electricity, medicals, or office work. Everybody will leave his office work until those seven days have passed.
“However, we are hopeful and prayerful that the government listens and then does what is necessary because we also know that we have a responsibility for society, for the university, and for our students. So nobody should blame us if this happens because we have given enough notice, we have made enough sensitization, and we have contacted enough stakeholders.
“So it’s going to be a total blackout in our campuses all through Nigeria for those seven days until that money is paid.”
Asked what would happen if the government remains adamant after the seven-warning strike, the SSANU President said, “Clearly, our organs and based on our constitution, will work with the provisions and that by Monday (today), we told our members should go back advertise for meetings, and then by Tuesday, they are supposed to meet in all the branches and Wednesday, they are supposed to return the feedbacks of the sensitization.
“Then, the JAC leadership, made up of the national officers of the two unions, NASU and SSANU, will meet in Abuja by the weekend to declare the strike, which will start on Monday, March 18, 2024, and last seven days.
“If the government decides to do what is needed and listens carefully, leaders will meet to reveal the opposition situation.”
Reminded that the JAC had earlier given an ultimatum to the government on the same subject matter, Ibrahim said, “That request was to sensitize the government that if nothing is done, we will take this decision. No decision has been taken. We are now at the implementation level. So, that is how we work.
“Our union has organs, and we do not just wake up overnight and make decisions. And because we’re also law-abiding, we try to exhaust all avenues, where peace and tranquillity can prevail and reasonability too. So this is what happens. So, there is no longer any other ultimatum; it is just the date for the strike. But things will be done between now and then. And then we will just hit the ground running, which is our position.”
