Kehinde Fajobi
The National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mohammed Ibrahim, has announced that university staff members nationwide are now on strike, citing withheld salaries and other unfulfilled commitments by the Federal Government.
Speaking on Channels Television’s News Track on Monday, Ibrahim said that after repeated efforts to resolve issues amicably, SSANU and the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) found themselves with no other option.
“We have made several efforts to engage with the government to resolve the situation,” Ibrahim explained. “Even before the extension on the 23rd, several extensions were given. Recall that this is not a new issue.”
According to him, SSANU members have been seeking payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved allowances, earned benefits, and the implementation of agreements made with the government back in 2009. After months of unsuccessful negotiations, the union members decided to halt their activities across universities.
Ibrahim further outlined their frustrations: “In July, specifically on the 17th, we held multiple protests in Abuja. Thereafter, the NLC took the matter to the president during discussions on the new minimum wage. At that meeting, the president directed that 50 per cent of the four months’ salaries be paid. But three months later, the promise remains unfulfilled.”
He shared that numerous meetings were held with the education ministers, who repeatedly assured that payment would be made, yet no progress was seen. “We have been pushed to the wall because we have exhausted all avenues to resolve the issue, even asking our members to be patient. Our members across branches have met, and the strike has begun. Moving forward, all activities in the bursary, registry, works and maintenance, security, and student affairs have been put on hold until payments are made,” Ibrahim added.
The SSANU president also confirmed that if the government follows through on payments, the strike will end immediately. “Previous overtures were made by the former minister of education. And this morning, I received a call from the minister-designate to discuss a meeting. However, the strike is a process, and the leadership of SSANU and NASU will need to meet.”
He emphasised that “once these payments are made today, since payments are done by electronic transfer, we will call off the strike.”