The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU), have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike commencing Monday.
The Joint Action Committee, (JAC), of non-teaching staff unions in the universities, which is coordinating the action has directed its members to proceed on the strike nationwide.
The fresh strike is hinged on the non-payment of their four months withheld salaries from when they joined an industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The strike according to the leaders of the two unions would commence on Sunday night of October 27, 2024.
JAC in a circular to all branch Chairman of NASU and SSANU in the universities and inter-university centres, with the title: Latest development in respect of the withheld four (4) months salaries, explained that the strike initially billed for 23rd October was rescheduled because of the Trade Group Council meeting of NASU branches on the said date.
The circular which was signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, explained that the strategic change in timing was for effective coordination and for both Unions to be on the same page.
See also Terrorism financing: NLC mobilises for nationwide strike over Ajaeros invitation Following the ongoing face-off between it and Nigeria Police, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress has asked its members to be ready to commence a nationwide strike if need be by midnight of Tuesday. The labour centre said in a communique issued after its emergency National Executive Council in Abuja that it had directed all the state chapters and affiliates to mobilise workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happened to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning over terrorism financing allegation. The police invitation to Ajaero comes weeks after policemen conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while justifying the raid, said the police were on the trail of one of the terrorists who masterminded the crisis in Sudan. The police added that the raid was to search for seditious materials in connection to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which turned violent in parts of the country, particularly in the North, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag and demanding President Bola Tinubus resignation. On Monday, the police said Ajaero should appear for questioning at 10 am over allegation of terrorism financing and treasonable felony. But the NLC National Executive Council convened an emergency for Tuesday morning to weigh the situation. Rising from the meeting, the NLC leadership, in their communique, said they viewed Ajaeros summon as a clearly unfounded and politically-motivated investigation. In the communique signed by NLC Deputy President, Ado Sani Minjibir, the congress warned that it will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation. The congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the state; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils alert to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today. The NLC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union at this critical moment. The meeting expressed grave concern that rather than extending the demand by the congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunt. This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98.In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows, it said. NLC said that it had decided to honour the police invitation as a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process. It however added that it would not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders were trampled upon with impunity by the state. The NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimise the baseless allegations levelled against him
JAC regretted that despite President Bola Tinubus approval for 50 percent of the four months withheld salaries to be paid, the alleged inaction of the Minister of Finance raised questions about the governments commitment to resolving the issue.
According to the circular, It is on record that the JAC of NASU and SSANU has issued multiple notices to the government to redress this ugly situation. However, the sincerity of the government to our cause is in doubt.
In view of this, the leadership of JAC has decided that the effective date for the strike be moved to midnight of Sunday, 27th October 2024, to allow the Branch Officers of NASU to be on ground before commencing the strike.
We had to do this strategic change in timing for effective coordination and for both Unions to be on the same page.
We express our deepest appreciation for your steadfast commitment to the leadership and we affirm our determination to persist in this struggle until ultimate victory is secured.
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