SSANU, NASU strike continues as FG remains unresponsive

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) reported that the Federal Government has yet to respond officially to their ongoing strike.

The indefinite strike, which began Monday, is in response to four months of withheld salaries, bringing university operations nationwide to a halt.

SSANU National Vice-President Abdussobur Salaam, in a Tuesday night interview, confirmed, “The strike is still on, and there’s been no official update. While the Minister of State for Education has made informal contact with our union leaders, there has been no substantial progress—only an informal appeal.”

He emphasized the union’s frustration, noting, “This issue has lingered too long, with unfulfilled promises. All our deadlines have passed without any payments. The recent outreach was merely a phone call. We urge the government to act decisively; we’ve reached a point where we can’t accept empty promises. Without payment, we won’t relent.”

A statement issued on Sunday, signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, confirmed that their ultimatum to the government over the withheld salaries expired at midnight on Sunday.

The unions demand payment of the withheld four months’ salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and enforcement of agreements from the 2009 deal with the government.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, enforced a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy following a prolonged strike by four university-based unions in 2022.

In a recent circular, the unions gave the government seven days to address their demands, including outstanding salary payments and implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 20, 2022, which expired on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

In their last peaceful protest held on July 18, 2024, at Unity Fountain, Abuja, JAC of NASU and SSANU issued a 10-day ultimatum to pay the withheld salaries to avoid further disruption in universities, yet no action has been taken.