Universities across the country, especially those owned by the federal government, were on Monday shut down by non-academic staff under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions, NASU.
The step followed the decision of the national leaders of the two unions that their members should start an indefinite industrial action as a result of the failure of the government to pay them four months of their salaries that were withheld following the 2022 strike by university workers.
The Branch Chairman of SSANU, the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Comrade Olugbenga Adenaiya, told Vanguard that the development was in line with the directive from their national leaders.
“This morning, we held a congress where our members decided to follow the directive of the national leadership. It was unanimously agreed that the strike would be total and indefinite. We cannot be treated like slaves in our country. Remember that we went on strike early this year and it was suspended because the government promised to pay us the withheld salaries, but that has not been the case.
“It is just a matter of continuing the strike we suspended the other time. All offices and essential services provided by SSANU and NASU members have been put on hold until further notice,” he said.
The development came on the day the university was supposed to start academic activities for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University, (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union, (NASU), have shut down Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, following the nationwide strike declared by the national unions.
Addressing journalists at the Felele campus of FUL after a joint emergency Congress, SSANU chairman, Federal University Lokoja, Comrade Adedeji Kasim Suara noted that the two unions are embarking on an indefinite strike following the failure of the President Bola Tinubu administration to pay their four months outstanding salaries and also not implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 20 August, 2022.
Other Universities across the country have joined in the strike action.
(Vanguard)
