Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has announced plans for industrial action following failed negotiations with the Federal Government over withheld salaries and unresolved grievances.
A circular signed by Peters Adeyemi, NASU general secretary and Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU president, said JAC convened to assess the ongoing crisis concerning the non-payment of four months’ salaries among other issues affecting their members across various universities and inter-university centres.
It said the committee had engaged with government officials, including the ministers of Education and that of Labour and Employment, but lamented a lack of concrete commitment to resolve their concerns.
The unions, therefore, directed their branches to hold general meetings on July 8 to discuss the government’s perceived insensitivity and plan further protests.
The planned actions also include a nationwide one-day protest on July 9 aimed at drawing attention to their plights.
This will be followed by a national protest, scheduled for July 18 in Abuja, after which the JAC will finalise plans for an indefinite strike.
The document read: “The national body of JAC of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, July 4, 2024 to appraise and take position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in university and inter-university centres.
“Similarly, the national JAC, on invitation, met with the minister of Education; minister of State for Education; permanent secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the ministry and National Universities Commission.
“Unfortunately, the engagement with the minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and as usual, the minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the Villa. The permanent secretary, who stood in for her, could not make any commitment on the issues raised.
“In view of this disappointment and failure of government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions which include the following;
All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, July 8, 2024 to sensitise members on the insensitivity of government to our plights.
“A one-day protest should hold on Tuesday, July 9,2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure all members fully participate in the protest and the media is adequately mobilised. A national protest will be held in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike will commence.”
