7-day warning strike: SSANU, NASU negotiations with FG hit roadblock

Negotiations between the Federal Government and the combined leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) reached an impasse on Wednesday.

The inability to come to a consensus has resulted in the continuation of the ongoing strike.

The contention arose following the government’s refusal to disburse four months of withheld salaries from 2021, which were suspended due to a previous strike action.

The unions had initiated a seven-day nationwide strike on Monday as a form of protest against the government’s decision.

The National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, confirmed the stalemate to reporters, succinctly stating, “strike continues.”

This affirmation indicates that the university staff remain steadfast in their demand for the release of their unpaid salaries.

The government of then President Muhammadu Buhari withheld the salaries, insisting on the principle of ‘No work; no pay.’

However, the current administration of President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the withheld salaries of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, who were also affected by the past administration’s ‘no work; no pay’ stance.

SSANU and NASU were, however, displeased to be left out.

The plea from the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) to the Tinubu government for the release of withheld salaries went unanswered. Despite repeated demands, the government chose to disregard their requests. In response, both unions initiated a strike.

Sources indicate that the strike, which commenced on Monday with a seven-day warning period, effectively paralysed academic operations on university campuses nationwide.