The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay the four months of withheld salaries. The unions have threatened to shut down universities and inter-university centers if their demands are not met by the deadline.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim accused the government of neglect and insincerity. The letter, titled “Re- Four (4) months withheld salaries: Demand for immediate payment,” highlighted the unions’ frustration over the unpaid salaries and warned of potential industrial action.
The letter stated: “The Honourable Minister would recall that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU embarked on a one-week warning strike between March 18th, 2024, and March 24th, 2024, to protest the denial of the arrears of four (4) months salaries withheld between May and August 24th, 2022.”
It further added: “Following a series of letters and the assurances of the payment, we write to remind the Honourable Minister of our various letters, engagements, and assurances towards the payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU. We wish to express our regrets and dismay that up to date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members. We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members.”
The unions accused the government of undermining collective bargaining efforts, which has eroded trust. “The deafening silence of government and failure to pay the withheld salaries is creating a high level of agitations and contentions among our members in the universities and inter-university centres such that we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on university campuses,” the letter continued.
Concluding their demands, the unions stated: “We, therefore, demand the immediate payment of the four months withheld salaries to our members not later than two weeks from the date of this correspondence, failing which we will be left with no option but to shut down the universities and inter-university centres.”
This ultimatum follows a warning strike earlier in the year and represents escalating tensions between the non-teaching staff unions and the federal government.
