Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have launched an indefinite nationwide strike across public university campuses, demanding the immediate release of their withheld salaries.
On September 17, 2023, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU issued the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to settle the outstanding withheld salaries of their members or face industrial action.
The two unions previously held multiple protests and warning strikes over the eight months of withheld salaries.
During these strikes, campus operations were disrupted as hostels and university gates were locked, and electricity supply was cut by frustrated non-academic staff.
SSANU and NASU criticized the Federal Government for releasing withheld salaries to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while neglecting non-academic unions.
All unions had participated in an eight-month strike in 2022 to push for improved welfare packages.
In response, the administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari enforced a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy. However, last October, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries to ASUU members.
SSANU and NASU have accused the government of unfair treatment by failing to compensate them equally with their academic counterparts.
In April, former Education Minister Tahir Mamman attributed the non-payment of SSANU and NASU salaries to a “communication problem” and assured that they were not being discriminated against.
Mamman stated that non-academic staff would receive half of their withheld salaries upon the President’s approval, but SSANU and NASU members report they have not received any payment three months after this assurance.