The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have opted to defer their proposed indefinite strike in light of the ongoing nationwide protest against hunger and poor governance.
On July 18, the unions, under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), orchestrated a national demonstration and submitted letters to the Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment. They sought the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, cautioning that a failure to do so would result in an indefinite strike.
The demonstration coincided with a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and labor leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During this gathering, the topic of withheld salaries was broached, and the President directed that the salaries be disbursed.
Nonetheless, no payment was made by the conclusion of the one-week ultimatum, which aligned with threats from youths to initiate nationwide demonstrations.
The JAC has elected to defer the indefinite strike, reasoning that it would be overshadowed by the larger national protest, thereby impeding the unions' matter from receiving the requisite government attention and media coverage.
In a communique addressed to NASU and SSANU branch chairpersons, entitled "Latest Developments Regarding Withheld Salaries," the JAC noted that although the ten-day grace period had lapsed, commencing with the strike would be counterproductive due to the prominence of the national protest.
Signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the circular stated:
"The JAC of NASU and SSANU seeks to apprise you of our ongoing endeavors to secure the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries and address the unfulfilled agreements from August 20, 2022.
"The recent National Peaceful Protest on July 18, 2024, was a success despite police interference. Our ultimatum letters were duly delivered to the Ministers of Education and, ur and, Employment. Although President Tinubu directed both ministers to secure funds for the payments, no action has been taken yet.
"It is apparent that the ten-day grace period has lapsed, but initiating a strike now would be ineffective given the focus on the national protest, which has captured widespread government attention.
"Therefore, JAC has determined that any further action concerning the indefinite strike should be postponed until the conclusion of the national protest to ensure it receives the appropriate attention from the government and media."