By Mariam Abeeb, Abuja
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have directed their members across the country to mobilise for a nationwide protest today, July 9, 2024.
This follows the recent breakdown of dialogue between the Ministers of Education and Labour, and the Joint Action Committee of the two bodies.
In a circular directed to all branch chairmen of the two unions and made available to Newsmen, the unions said the protest will commence across the state chapters of the federation, while a national protest will hold in Abuja on the 18th of July.
It could be recalled that SSANU and NASU leaderships have been battling the Federal Government to pay their four months salary arrears owed them when they joined an indefinite strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the year 2022.
While President Bola Tinubu gave a directive that the affected staff be paid their salaries, SSANU and NASU members are yet to receive theirs several months after the directive was issued.
Only recently, when both unions threatened to embark on strike if nothing is done to address their demand, the Federal Government in an attempt to avert the strike, invited them for a meeting with the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir.
The circular was jointly signed by the General Secretary of NASU Prince Peters Adeyemi and the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim.
It reads: “The National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC).
“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education did not show any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the Villa.
“The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.
“In view of this disappointment and failure of government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions which include the following.
“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024, to sensitise members on the insensitivity of government to our plights.
“A one day protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest.
“A national protest will hold in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July, 2024, after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately”.
