SSANU/NASU ground activities in varsities

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) yesterday commenced a nationwide strike over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the federal government.

Last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the federal government fails to meet its demands before today, March 18, 2024.

National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, said his members, including vice chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid 2022 arrears.

Our correspondents from across the states reported that the strike action grounded activities in many universities across the country.

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The Chairman of SSANU in Bayero University Kano (BUK), Mustapha Aminu, reiterated that part of the issues that called for the strike action are re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement – the issue of 25/35 per cent of salary increment, minimum wage areas and the issue of the N50 billion the government has promised to give as earned allowances.

He said if nothing is done after the seven-day warning strike, then a total and indefinite strike will be declared.

At the University of Abuja, SSANU members in the early hours of Monday blocked the main entrance to the university.

Staff and students had a hectic time making their way into the university premises following efforts by the striking workers to stop their members.

However, findings by Daily Trust showed that academic activities were ongoing in some faculties.

A lecturer, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that the strike only affects non-academic activities.

“They did not stop others, but the fact is that the crowd and rowdy situation at the gate is a source of worry for many people and everyone is having a hectic time gaining entrance,” he said.

At the University of Ilọrin, members of the two unions held a congress on Monday at the school gate where they directed all their members to return home.

The union members only allowed one out of the two entrance gates to the school to be opened and stopped commercial and private vehicles from entering.

Speaking on the enforcement, the chairman of NASU, UNILORIN branch, Comrade Zuberu Ibrahim, said the two bodies have a staff strength of 2,200.

“The students are presently writing their exams and as non-academic staff, we may have to tell the management to postpone it by one week. However, the services we are rendering to make the examination function have been withdrawn in places like the works department, CBT centre, clinics and other places. We hope the federal government will do the needful and get us back to work,” he said.

The chairman of ASUU in the university, Alex Akanmu who attended the congress in solidarity with the affected unions, said the workers are on a very legitimate agitation.

While members of the unions and their leadership gathered at the gate of Joseph Sarwaun Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) with a letter submitted to the school authority indicating the beginning of the strike, their counterpart at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi mostly stayed away from work.

In Nasarawa State, the Chairman of SSANU at the Federal University of Lafia, Mr. Daniel Dajen, after a peaceful protest, urged the federal government to release the four months withheld salaries.

In Ondo State, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), was on Monday deserted of activities as workers complied with the directive to embark on a nationwide seven-day warning strike.

Our correspondent, who monitored the compliance, observed that the Senate building was empty while the lecture rooms and theatre were placed under lock and key.

SSANU Chairman of FUTA, Felix Adubi, said the association had to withdraw the services of its members in compliance with the directive of its national bodies.

Adubi noted that the association had to chase back members who defiled the order, saying its leadership had no grouse with the management of the institution but the federal government.

Also, at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba Akoko (AAUA), academic and business activities were paralysed as the two unions also mobilised their members to join the nationwide strike.

Tayo Ogungbeni, SSANU chairman, who spoke, said all its members had to temporarily withdraw their services.

The situation in Cross River was not different as the protesting university workers blocked the main gates into the University of Calabar Monday morning.

Security operatives from the school and detachments of policemen were seen in and outside the gate keeping watch.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi said the strike will not affect activities of the 36th convocation ceremony holding this week in the school.

“The strike is not an internal thing. Their issue will not affect any of our lined-up events or our guests,” she said.

At the University of Maiduguri, workers in the academic office, registry, bursary, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services.

According to the Secretary of the SSANU, Comrade Samaila Sadiq told Daily Trust that they are in total compliance with the directives of the national body.

“We have shut down all buildings in the university, and it has paralysed academic activities. We also chased students out of the university library and locked it.

“We control the lights, buildings and the security so everyone can see how important we’re in the institution and the need to address our grievances. You know, when you control light, you control water and all the halls,” he said.

Sadiq, who is also the secretary of the joint committee of SSANU and NASU said they had fully complied and were waiting for the next directives from the national body.

In Plateau State, SSANU and NASU members shut down the main entrance of the University of Jos as they embarked on the seven-day warning strike.

The action of the unions crippled the activities of the university.

In Zamfara State, the SSANU Federal University, Gusau branch asked its members to actively participate in the seven-day warning strike.

In a statement signed by the branch secretary, Comrade Attahiru Abubakar, the association said the warning strike must be a comprehensive and total cessation of activities.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara has not joined the warning strike as the institution has not met the requirements to partake in such industrial action.

In Jigawa State, the leaderships of the SSANU and the NASU have shut down the Federal University, Dutse as they embark on a seven-day warning strike action.

In Adamawa State, Michael Omokoro, the SSANU Chairman at Modibbo Adama University, explained that the strike would affect critical services such as electricity, water supply, and internet access, as SSANU members have withdrawn their services for the duration of the seven-day warning strike.

NLC threatens to join strike

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday threatened to join forces with striking varsity workers who shut down their respective places of work over their four months withheld salaries since 2022.

Reacting to the development, President of NLC, Joe Ajaero described the federal government’s action of paying one union while others were not paid as ‘discriminatory’.

He cautioned the federal government from allowing the students and parents of those shut institutions to bear the brunt of the current face-off.

“We join our affiliate unions, the NASU and SSANU in demanding the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members. There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place. We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship,” Ajaero said.

‘You flouted trade dispute law’ 

The federal government, Monday night, chided the leadership of SSANU and NASU over its ongoing 7-day warning strike.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the ministry was not officially notified by the unions of their intention to proceed on a 7-day warning strike as spelt out in the Trade Dispute Act.

Onyejeocha, who further described the strike as a “total disregard of Federal Government’s concerted effort to address the concern of the unions”, maintained that their action was contrary to the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act.

Her displeasure was contained in a statement issued Monday night by the spokesman of the Ministry, Olajide Oshundun.

The minister, while calling on the leadership of both unions to direct its members to shelve the ongoing strike, explained that the ministry had earlier reached out to the warring unions before it degenerated to this level.

“I appeal to the SSANU and NASU to step back from their hard-line stance and meet the federal government at the table for conciliation. I also appeal to all Nigerians to always take steps that are beneficial to the well-being of the country and the citizens,” the minister said.