The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have declared a nationwide one-day protest scheduled for Thursday, October 9, over the Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands.
In a circular jointly signed by the NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions directed all branches to hold joint congresses on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilise members ahead of the protest.
The protest, according to the statement, will involve rallies across university campuses, the display of placards, and press briefings to draw attention to the government’s inaction.
The unions, operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), said the decision followed a review of the Federal Government’s response to their earlier ultimatums, which they described as unsatisfactory.
Their grievances include the alleged unfair sharing of ₦50 billion earned allowances, delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU-SSANU agreement, non-payment of two months’ salaries, arrears of 25 and 35 percent salary increments, and unpaid third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
“Despite the government’s setting up of a Joint Consultative Committee to address our concerns, meetings held in September and October yielded no meaningful progress,” the memo stated.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, had recently accused the government of insincerity, warning that failure to address their demands could lead to a total, indefinite strike.
“Ours will not be the mother of all strikes; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” Ibrahim said. “We must take our destinies in our hands.”
The unions have been locked in a prolonged dispute with the Federal Government over welfare and conditions of service, similar to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The nationwide protest marks the latest escalation in the growing discontent among non-academic staff in Nigerian universities.
