The Joint Action Committee, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, has announced its intention to commence an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not disbursed within three weeks.
The unions have put forth several demands, including the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, enhanced remuneration, earned allowances, and the execution of the 2009 agreements with the government.
It is noteworthy that the Federal Government, via the Ministry of Labour and Employment, had enforced the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during the prolonged strike by the four university-based unions in 2022.
In a joint statement signed by SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions emphasized that the Federal Government was granted a 10-day grace period, which expired on 26th July 2024, to settle the four months' outstanding salaries owed to the university staff. Failure to comply would result in the closure of universities and inter-university centers.
However, despite the lapse of six weeks after the grace period, the government has yet to fulfill this obligation.
“It is in light of the above that we inform the government of the decision of the National JAC of NASU and SSANU, at the meeting held on 12th September 2024, that the government is given a final three-week ultimatum from Tuesday, 17th September 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on 20th August 2022. Failing this, our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” Ibrahim said.
The statement added that, during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries on 18th July 2024, following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
“We have it on good authority that Mr President approved the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as far back as 18th July 2024 at the National Minimum Wage meeting with the NLC and TUC leadership.
“Recently, we also heard that Mr President has approved the actual release of the payment. Regrettably, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement added.