SSANU, NASU to begin 7-day warning strike on March 18 over 4 months withheld salaries

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has announced its plan to commence a seven-day warning strike from March 18. 

The impending strike is as a result of the Federal Government’s failure to pay members their four months withheld salaries. 

President Bola Tinubu had directed that public university workers who participated in a prolonged strike in 2022 but were left unpaid by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari should receive compensation for four months. 

Payment was made to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation following the president’s instructions. However, the three unions representing non-teaching staff are yet to receive their payments. 

Angered by government’s delay in fulfilling its obligation to pay its members, SSANU authorized a seven-day strike action during their 47th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State. 

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said: “What played out at today’s meeting clearly is that members have unanimously resolved they will not accept this injustice meted on us, because there is no explanation that can scientifically or naturally be given to anyone as to why one group of our staff is paid and then the other three groups are not. 

“Therefore, we have given the next one week where members will go back to their branches and sensitise our members. This time around, it is going to be a total strike. For seven days, there will be no water, no electricity, no medicals, no office work. Everybody will leave his office work until for seven days. 

“However, we are hopeful, we are prayerful that government listens and then does the needful because we also know we have a responsibility for the society, for the university and for our students. So, nobody should blame us if this thing happens, because we have given enough notices, we have made enough sensitisation and we have contacted enough stakeholders. 

“So it is going to be total, it is going to be total blackout in our campuses all through Nigeria during the seven days until when that money is paid.”