The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have decided to suspend their planned indefinite strike. This decision comes in response to the widespread protests against poor governance and hunger that have recently taken place across Nigeria.
The unions, which are represented by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), had previously staged a national protest on July 18, 2024. During this protest, they submitted letters to the Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment, demanding the payment of four months’ withheld salaries. The unions had warned that failure to meet their demands would lead to an indefinite strike.
The protests by SSANU and NASU coincided with President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During this meeting, labour leaders raised the issue of the withheld salaries. President Tinubu instructed that the salaries be paid, but as the one-week deadline expired without any payment, and with ongoing nationwide protests continuing, the unions chose to suspend their planned strike.
JAC noted that pursuing a strike at this time might overshadow their specific issue amidst the larger national protests, potentially reducing the visibility and impact of their demands. A circular sent to NASU and SSANU branch chairpersons, titled “Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months Salaries,” explained that while the 10-day grace period given to the Federal Government had ended, the unions decided that a strike might not gain the necessary attention during this period of broader national unrest.
The circular, signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, stated: “The JAC of NASU and SSANU has decided to keep you updated on the latest developments regarding our ongoing demands for the payment of the withheld four months’ salaries and the unimplemented agreement reached with the government on August 20, 2022. It is no longer news that the recent national peaceful protest held on July 18, at Unity Fountain, Abuja, was a success despite police harassment. Our ultimatum letters, giving the government until midnight on July 28, 2024, were delivered to the Minister of Education and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.”
The circular further highlighted that despite reports indicating that the president had directed the Ministers of Finance and Education to secure the funds, no payment had yet been made. The JAC decided to defer any further action regarding the indefinite strike until after the national protests, allowing for a more informed decision once the immediate national issues had been addressed.
