THE joint action committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced suspension of ongoing strike following renewed commitments from the Federal Government to meet key demands.
The strike is to be suspended from Tuesday, November 5, about a week after striking university workers down their tools.
The unions, which represent a significant portion of Nigeria’s university workforce, initiated the industrial action on October 28 to demand their withheld salaries, improved welfare, among others.
The strike, which had disrupted non-teaching activities across campuses, was suspended a day after the federal government said it had begun paying NASU members.
This notice of suspension was made known in a strike update sent to the chairpersons of branches across the country on Sunday, November 3.
On Saturday, the federal government announced that it has released funds to initiate payments of outstanding salaries to members of the NASU in federal universities, along with retirement benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme.
A statement by the director of press and public relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, said the payments to NASU members had commenced, with many beneficiaries already confirming receipt of their salaries and benefits.
While emphasising its dedication to addressing longstanding financial obligations within federal institutions, the Office of the Accountant-General also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers and retirees.
Reacting to this, the statement jointly signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi noted that the decision to suspend the strike followed “several extensive and exhaustive deliberations” with top government officials, including the new Minister of Education, the and the Minister of Finance.
The unions noted that through these engagements, they secured an “irrevocable commitment” from the government to release two months’ worth of withheld salaries in batches —one month by the end of October (which has reportedly been largely fulfilled) and the second month by the end of November.
The statement also emphasised that ongoing discussions with the government continue regarding the remaining two months’ withheld salaries, the N50 billion in Earned Allowances, the arrears of 25/35 percent, and a proposed Wage Award.
“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these development and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining 2 months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.
The ICIR reported on Monday, October 28, that SSANU and NASU commenced an indefinite strike over unmet demands from the Federal Government.
The committee announced the strike in a statement on Sunday, October 27, jointly signed by the national president of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the general secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi.
They noted that the ultimatum they gave the government over their members’ withheld salaries would expire Sunday midnight.
The unions are demanding, among others, the payment of their four-month withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances and implementation of the 2009 agreement with the government.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M