Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have concluded their seven-day warning strike, following a directive from SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim.
In a circular addressed to branch chairmen at public universities nationwide, Ibrahim instructed SSANU and NASU members to return to work starting from Monday, March 25, 2024.
The warning strike, which commenced on Monday, March 18, 2024, was initiated in response to withheld salaries, prompting workers in various departments such as registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs to withdraw their services.
Throughout the duration of the strike, public universities across the country experienced administrative paralysis, with hostels and varsity gates locked up, and electricity supply disconnected.
SSANU and NASU’s grievances stem from the Federal Government’s alleged partiality in paying withheld salaries, favoring the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while neglecting non-academic unions.
This disparity has been a longstanding point of contention, exacerbated by an eight-month strike in 2022 and subsequent disputes over compensation.
Despite criticism from Labour Minister, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who condemned the unions’ actions as disregard for government efforts, SSANU and NASU stood firm, asserting their right to fair treatment.
Following a thorough assessment of the warning strike’s impact, SSANU and NASU hailed their members’ dedication and loyalty to the cause. The unions officially concluded the strike at midnight on Sunday, March 24, 2024, and announced the resumption of normal work activities the following day.
While acknowledging the end of the warning strike, SSANU and NASU affirmed their commitment to pursuing the resolution of withheld salaries through continued engagement with relevant government agencies.
Members were assured of forthcoming updates on further actions to be taken in the ongoing struggle for fair compensation.
