‘It Is A Long-term Battle; Tinubu Govt Yet To Reach Out’ – Striking Varsity Workers Continue Showdown With FG

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has declared the ongoing strike a comprehensive struggle involving university leaders, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars.

On Monday, the JAC of SSANU and NASU initiated an indefinite strike due to unpaid salaries for four months, leading to a complete halt in university operations nationwide.

In a Wednesday interview with The PUNCH, SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed that senior university officials, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, had not received their salaries for the past four months.

Consequently, he said the strike will continue until all salaries are paid, with Ibrahim reporting high compliance across institutions.

“No representative from the government has reached out,” Ibrahim stated. “This is a long-term effort. We are withdrawing services, and our members are committed to not returning until all outstanding salaries are cleared.”

He further noted that strike adherence is at 98%, with the remaining members set to join shortly.

The leadership change in the Ministry of Education, with Dr. Tunji Alausa taking over from former Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, has not yielded any official response from the government.

SSANU Vice President Abdussobur Salaam also reported that there had been no substantive engagement from the government to address the situation.

In a joint statement by SSANU and NASU on Sunday, leaders emphasized that their ultimatum to the Federal Government had expired, with their demands including back pay for withheld salaries, improved benefits, earned allowances, and the implementation of a 2009 agreement with the government.

Additionally, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) announced a nationwide protest on Wednesday to address their own withheld salaries and unfulfilled agreements with the government.

NAAT intends to protest at the Ministry of Finance on November 14 if their demands, including the implementation of a presidential directive to pay withheld salaries, are not met.

The protest is scheduled to begin on November 6, with all branches mobilized for action.