The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) has issued a stark warning of an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not disbursed within three weeks.
In a joint statement signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions outlined their grievances, highlighting the expiration of a 10-day grace period on July 26, 2024, during which the Federal Government was expected to pay four months of overdue salaries to university staff. Despite this, the unions say that six weeks have passed without a resolution.
Beginning September 17, 2024, they have granted the Federal Government a final three-week ultimatum to address their demands or face the shutdown of universities and inter-university centers.
"The government is hereby given a final three-week ultimatum to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on August 20, 2022," Ibrahim stated. "Failure to meet these demands will compel our members to initiate an indefinite strike."
The unions are also calling for improved remuneration and earned allowances, accusing the government of neglecting their previous agreements. This follows a history of financial disputes, including the controversial "No Work, No Pay" policy invoked during a prolonged strike by several university unions in 2022.
The statement further revealed that during a National Minimum Wage meeting on July 18, 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of the withheld salaries. However, despite these approvals, no payments have been made.
"We have credible information that the President sanctioned these payments; regrettably, nothing has materialized since," the statement added.