The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has affirmed that the strike by the union and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) will continue indefinitely until their demands are met.
SSANU and NASU began an indefinite strike on Monday over unpaid salary arrears spanning four months.
Despite appeals for the unions to halt the industrial action, SSANU president Mohammed Ibrahim insists that they will only consider suspension if their demands are fully addressed.
“The issue here is not about meetings. What we need is payment, as all required procedures have been followed. They can simply authorise this payment, and I assure you that within 24 hours we can consult with our principals and suspend the strike,” Ibrahim said during Monday’s edition of Politics Today on Channels Television.
“We’ve received assurances before, so promises from politicians and government officials are not new to us. Our members’ mandate is clear: this strike is indefinite and will only end when we receive payment notifications.”
The unions’ action has led to a standstill across public universities in Nigeria, with classes and facilities shut down.
Back in March, SSANU and NASU staged a seven-day warning strike from 18 March 2024 over unpaid salaries.
President Bola Tinubu had previously ordered the release of withheld salaries for university workers due to their strike in 2022.
That year, the unions embarked on an eight-month strike, demanding improved welfare packages, leading the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to implement a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy. In October last year, President Tinubu approved the release of four out of eight months’ withheld salaries for ASUU members.
However, following a three-week ultimatum, SSANU and NASU resumed industrial action, accusing the Federal Government of failing to fulfil promises and treating them with disregard.
In response to the current strike, the Senate has described the action as unnecessary and urged dialogue.
Senator Dandutse Mohammed, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, has called for discussions with the Federal Government to prevent further hardship and disruptions in academics. He suggested that a peaceful resolution would be the most responsible approach.