Another SSANU and NASU strike looms
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities and Allied Institutions will go on strike countrywide today (Monday) to protest the withholding of their four-month salaries.
The National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, told The Punch on Sunday that the two unions were preparing for a statewide strike.However, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that he was ignorant of the SSANU/NASU planned strike.
While responding to Journalists on Sunday, the minister stated, “I am unaware of any scheduled strike. But I know the issue is being addressed at the highest levels of government. I’ll get through to them.
“In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months’ worth of withholding salary for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.However, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU chastised the government for paying ASUU’s four months of withholding payments while excluding non-academic personnel.
The unions issued a seven-day ultimatum on March 1 and threatened a walkout if their February 13 letter to Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, and Tahir Mamman, the minister for education, was not responded to.Last week, SSANU and NASU issued a seven-day warning strike, awaiting a government reaction.
By Nnaemeka Odenigbo
