The non-teaching staff members of Nigerian public universities under the aegis of the Senior Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) today began a one-week strike which has grounded activities in the Universities.
READ ALSO : SSANU, NASU to begin 7-day warning strike March 18 over 4 months withheld salaries
The industrial action is over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of their salaries by the Nigerian Government.
While appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Show programme on Monday, National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim declared that the strike had started.
“Definitely, it (the strike) has already started,” Ibrahim said.
“As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done,” he stated.
The SSANU president emphasised that no government representative had contacted the non-academic unions and that while some had done so unofficially, their assurances could not be relied upon.
READ ALSO : 4 Months Withheld Salaries: Varsity Workers Direct Members To Commence 7Day Warning Strike From Monday
He questioned why some government officials would not completely comply with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to settle 2022 arrears.
He noted that after sending a seven-day warning last Monday, the Minister of Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, had not contacted the unions.
According to Ibrahim, this was a sharp contrast from what the union witnessed under the leadership of former Labour Minister Chris Ngige.
He emphasised that if the government does not respect the unions’ requests following the seven-day warning strike, which began today (Monday), the unions would return to their toolbox and select their next course of action.
Situation report at the University of Abuja, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Federal University of Technology, Akura, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and others shows that the strike action recorded great success on its first days as the workers are determined to embark on a full week strike, ValidViewNetwork reports.
