SSANU/NASU warning strike: OAU under lockdown, as academic activities are put on hold

By Jeleel Olawale, Ile-Ife

Following the nationwide warning strikes that kicked off on Monday by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Nigerian NewsDirect investigations revealed that academic activities have been put to a halt at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-ife, Osun state.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Chairman of SSANU, Mr Taiwo Arobadi, said that the 7-day warning strike was based on unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the Federal Government.

Our correspondent found out the university was still under lock and key as no members of staff were allowed in the campus. The institution was deserted as all offices were locked. No students were found on campus.

The SSANU Chair noted that all their members in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security and student affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of the public Universities across the country.

According to him, the Federal Government had signed Memoranda of Understanding(MoU) in  2009, and Memoranda of Agreement(MoA) in 2023 respectively over payment of their arrears, but nothing was done till date.

The Chairman maintained that if the government does the needful, the strike would be called off, but failure to do so within stipulated time, next action would be decided.

“What we are agitating for is that the Federal Government should pay our four months withheld salaries of members, following the 2022, nationwide strike.

“We see no reason why the government should pay only Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)  and abandon SSANU, NASU, NAAT,” he stated.

Also, Comrade Wole Odewumi, the Chairman, Non-Teaching Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, OAU branch, told NewsDirect that they complied with the national directive on strike.

Odewumi said that none of the Unions are superior to one another, saying “once the Federal Government has paid ASSU, other unions should be paid as well in order not to waste the time of the school management.”