The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU) has disclosed on Wednesday that their meeting with the Federal Government had reached an impasse.
SSANU and NASU initiated a seven-day warning strike on Monday to address the issue of four months’ withheld salaries dating back to 2021, a period marked by an extended strike.
In an interview with our correspondent, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the National President of JAC of SSANU and NASU, conveyed that despite convening with the Ministers of Education, the permanent secretary, and other officials, the dialogue failed to yield a concrete resolution. Consequently, the nationwide strike by the unions will persist.
Mr. Ibrahim emphasized, “Strike continues, we engaged with the Ministers of Education and the permanent secretary, who assured us that our concerns are being addressed at the highest echelons of government.”
He further explained, “While we acknowledge this assurance, we are adamant about not suspending the strike until tangible evidence in the form of payment alerts is received. Despite our inquiries regarding the timeline for such alerts, no specific date was provided. Therefore, we remain resolute in our decision not to suspend the strike until payments are confirmed. The current strike, being a warning measure, is set to conclude by midnight on Sunday. We anticipate that the assurances provided will translate into substantive action.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATS) initiated a nationwide strike on Wednesday, prompting members at the University of Lagos to stage a peaceful protest at the institution’s entrance.
Mr. Douglas Ojobo, Chairman of UNILAG NAATS, asserted, “Following the unresponsiveness of the authorities to our numerous communications, our national leadership decided to embark on a three-day nationwide protest commencing today and concluding on Friday.”
He added, “Should there be no redress by the end of Friday, we will reassess our stance and devise alternative strategies to ensure that our rightful salaries are disbursed. Our members deserve timely compensation, and we will persist until this matter is resolved.”
