SSANU and NASU strike begin, halt all activities

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have embarked on a seven-day nationwide strike over the failure of the federal government to pay salaries.

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, March 18, 2024, confirmed the strike action.

He said; “Definitely, it (the strike) has already started,” thereby describing the treatment meted out to them as “unfair”.

He further said; “As at today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and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.”

According to Mohammed Ibrahim, since they began their strike, no government representative has reached out to the non-academic unions, though some have reached out unofficially.

He stated that despite President Bola Tinubu’s instruction that members of varsity unions be paid 2022 arrears, some government officials have refused to comply.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, claims he is unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.

In the letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University, the chairman of the institution’s branch of NASU, Monday Danjuma Kpaji also, Anthony T. Joro in SSANU, said the strike that would last for seven days was in line with the directive of their national secretariat.

The letter read in part;

“We bring you fraternal greetings from the secretariat of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, University of Jos branch.

“This is to officially inform you that our National Secretariat has declared a seven-day warning strike with effect from Monday, March 18 to Sunday, March 24, 2024, respectively.

“Accordingly, this is to put you on notice that all our services will be withdrawn with no concession, from midnight of Sunday, March 17, 2024, till Sunday, March 24, 2024.”

Recall that on Monday, March 11, 2024, SSANU and NASU revealed plans to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before March 18, 2024.

Expressing its grievances', SSANU President said his members including Vice Chancellors, registrars and bursars are yet to be paid 2022 arrears.

He said;

“Shutting down the university is clearly beyond how it will affect the students because it’s everybody; there will be no electricity, there will be no water, there will be no security, there will be no hostels for students, and there will be no administration."