The Federal Government will meet with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. to address the ongoing strike.
On Thursday morning, SSANU Vice-President Abdussobur Salaam told PUNCH Online that the Federal Government had formally invited the union on Wednesday evening.
“We received a formal invitation last night. The meeting is scheduled for 11 am today. It will be presided over by the Minister of State for Education and will be held in the Minister’s Conference Room,” he said.
Due to four months of delayed pay, the unions under JAC launched an indefinite strike on Monday, which caused university operations across the country to be suspended.
Top university officials, such as vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, have also not received their salaries, which further affected university operations, according to SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim.
98% of members participated in the strike, he said, and they won’t go back to work until their demands are fulfilled.
He said, “It is a long-term battle because this strike also involves Vice-Chancellors, bursars, registrars, and other senior administrators who were not paid. The impact is significant, and no one from the government has reached out to us. We have withdrawn our services, and our members are resolute they will not return to work until all salaries are paid.”
The unions are calling for, among other things, the payment of the four months’ delayed salary, better compensation, earned allowances, and the execution of the 2009 agreements with the government.
He further noted that the strike’s adherence rate of 98% was encouraging.