•No credible explanation withholding SSANU, NASU salaries-NLC

By Adesina Wahab, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Femi Bolaji, Demola Akinyemi, David Odama & Marie-Therese Nanlong

LAGOS: Following the inability of the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of non-academic staff in public universities in the country, the workers on Monday shut down activities in those universities.

The 2022 strike action, which started on February 14 and was called off on October 14 same year, led to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoking the ‘no work, no pay” rule, leading to the withholding of eight months’ salaries of the workers.

The latest development arose from the decision of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu approving the payment of four months’ salaries to the academic staff, leaving the non-academic ones unattended to.

The leaders of JAC, Prince Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU National President, endorsed a circular to all their branches on March 15, 2024, to call out members for the warning strike.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has urged the FG to pay the workers, saying there is no credible reason for withholding same.

Activities in UNILAG grounded

At the University of Lagos, UNILAG, the Acting Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Olugbenga Adenaiya, in conjunction with leaders of the local chapter of NASU, led the workers in ensuring total compliance with the strike.

“We started the strike as directed by our national leaders and everything went well according to plans. This is being done in conjunction with NASU members. We will continue as directed and if after the warning strike, it is agreed that a full blown action should follow, we will do that.

We are drawing attention to injustice – UNIABUJA workers

Academic activities were also grounded at the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, as the protesting workers prevented both academic and non academic staff from driving in through the university main gate which was under lock and key.

Speaking to journalists, the University of Abuja branch chairman of SSANU, Comrade Nureden Yusuf said that the protest by JAC was to draw the attention of the federal government over the injustice done to SSANU and NASU in the payment of the four months withheld salaries which President Tinubu approved in October last year.

Federal University Wukari joins

Members of SSANU and NASU at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State also joined the nationwide strike of their respective unions.

Speaking to Vanguard, via telephone, an academic staff of the institution, who doesn’t want his name on print confirmed the development. He noted that activities in the institution was almost paralysed today by the unions. He also said the exit gate of the institution were shut down.

Vanguard, however, gathered that the strike action did not affect the ongoing examinations of the students.

Federal University, Lafia part of strike

Leaders of SSANU and NASU of the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, trooped to the gates of the university’s permanent site on Monday and prevented workers from having access to the campuses of the institution as they barricaded all entrances and exits of the institution .

Chairman SSANU, Comrade Daniel Dajen, while briefing journalists, said they had resolved to comply fully with the directive to embark on a one-week nationwide strike due to non-payment of their four months withheld salaries.

University of Ilorin too

There was traffic gridlock at the entrance of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday as non-teaching workers converged on the gate of the university to press home their demand.

The Chairman of NASU, Comrade Zuberu Ibrahim, said that the strike was a success as members of the two unions involved complied totally with the directive of the national body.

Public Relations Officer of SSANU in the University, Comrade Segun Alabi said that the compliance of members with the strike was total, adding that members of the union dispersed to their homes immediately after the Congress held at the gate of the institution early on Monday.

SSANU, NASU down tools in UniJos

As early as 7 am, the unionists assembled at the gates of the different campuses of the university, barricaded the entrances singing solidarity songs and leaving staff and students who came for work and lectures stranded.

No reason withholding SSANU, NASU salaries – NLC

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday said that there was no justification in the discriminatory payment of the four months withheld salaries approved by President Bola Tinubu for the university workers.
In solidarity with the protesting unions, the NLC in a statement in Abuja, said the singular act of government had plunged the members into indescribable hardship.

The statement signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, with the title, “Arrest this drift now,” reads in part: “We join our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in demanding for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members.

“There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place. We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship. Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment. By so doing government is clearly courting avoidable industrial dispute.”