The seven-day warning strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has come to an end.
In a circular sent to branch chairmen at public universities nationwide, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim instructed members to resume work starting from Monday, March 25, 2024.
During the strike, workers in various departments, including registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs, withdrew their services, resulting in a complete administrative shutdown across public universities in Nigeria.
The unions are protesting the withholding of salaries by the Federal Government, criticizing the preferential treatment given to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while neglecting the non-academic unions.
This strike follows an eight-month strike in 2022, during which the unions demanded better welfare conditions. Although the government implemented a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ and withheld salaries, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries in October.
The unions accuse the government of unfair treatment and discrimination for not compensating them on par with their academic counterparts. The strike action has faced criticism from the Labour Minister, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who believes it disregards the government’s efforts to address the unions’ concerns.
SSANU and NASU have expressed their satisfaction with the impact of the seven-day warning strike, highlighting the extensive participation and commitment shown by members across various universities and inter-university centers.
They commended the dedication, determination, and allegiance of their members in advocating for the payment of four months’ overdue salaries, acknowledging their unwavering support for the union’s cause.
The unions officially announced the conclusion of the warning strike, specifying that normal work operations would resume on Monday, March 25th, 2024, following the strike’s end at midnight on Sunday, March 24th, 2024.
SSANU and NASU reiterated their commitment to pursuing the issue of withheld salaries, assuring members that the fight for their rightful payments will persist.
Furthermore, the unions pledged to maintain constructive dialogues with relevant government bodies in both the executive and legislative branches, promising to keep members informed about future courses of action to be undertaken.
