Victor EzejaNon-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have announced a suspension of the ongoing nationwide strike over withheld salaries.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, SSANU and NASU said the suspension of the indefinite strike will take effect on Tuesday, 5th November 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the statement signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, the unions had series of deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services during the industrial action. It said the during the deliberations, the Federal Government made commitment that two months of the four months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form. While one month was to be paid by the end of October, 2024, while the second month will be paid by the end of November, 2024.
The Joint committee therefore directed that the strike be suspend for one month with effect from Tuesday, 15 November.
Part of the statement read: “Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these developments and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining 2 months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.
“Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation in this regard; we appreciate your total commitment and resoluteness during this struggle.”
Prime Business Africa had reported that SSANU and NASU commenced nationwide indefinite strike on Monday, 28 October over their four months withheld salaries following what they described as government’s insensitivity to their demands.
On Saturday, the Federal Government through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), announced that funds have been released for the settlement of the withheld salaries for NASU.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
