The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to address grievances affecting non-teaching staff in universities.
In a joint letter to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, dated 15 September, the unions accused the government of neglecting agreements on welfare and allowances despite several reminders.
The Joint Action Committee of both unions listed their demands, which included the payment of outstanding withheld salaries, implementation of a 25 to 35 percent salary increase, equitable disbursement of ₦50 billion in earned allowances, and renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between the unions and the Federal Government.
They recalled that a meeting convened by the minister in July resolved to establish a tripartite committee with representatives of the ministry, the National Universities Commission, and the unions to address the issues. But, according to the unions, no progress has been made.
“Despite our repeated efforts to draw your attention to concerns affecting our members in universities and inter-university centres, there appears to be nothing positive forthcoming from your office,” the letter read in part.
SSANU president, Muhammed Ibrahim, warned that failure to meet their demands would result in a “total, indefinite and absolute” strike.
“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes,’ it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” he said.
The unions also criticised what they described as discriminatory treatment in ongoing renegotiations, claiming that while talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were fast-tracked, their own demands were sidelined despite repeated submissions.
SSANU and NASU have in recent years clashed with the government over welfare and funding issues, often leading to prolonged disruptions in the university system.
