Universities in Nigeria have shut down as non-academic staff members, represented by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU), commenced an indefinite strike. This action follows the national leaders’ decision to protest against the government’s failure to pay four months of withheld salaries, which were not released during the 2022 university workers’ strike.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) reports that approximately 2.1 million students across various institutions will be affected by this strike. This disruption comes just as universities were set to start the 2024/2025 academic session, with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) planning to hold online lectures to manage the situation.
Mr. Olugbenga Adenaiya, SSANU branch chairman at UNILAG, confirmed the strike escalation, saying members fully supported their national leaders’ call. He voiced non-academic staff’s frustration, stating, “We cannot be treated like slaves in our own country.” He mentioned the last strike was paused after the government promised to pay withheld salaries, which still hasn’t happened. Consequently, all services by SSANU and NASU members are now suspended until further notice.
The strike is also affecting the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where Mr. Felix Adubi, SSANU chairman, said non-teaching staff are fully complying with the national strike call. He noted the unfair treatment they face compared to academic staff who received partial payments, stating, “We won’t budge until our demands are met.” Adubi emphasized the ongoing discrimination within the university system.
At the University of Abuja, staff were seen going about their normal activities despite the strike announcement. While the unions’ leadership held meetings to address the strike’s status, the Director of Public Relations at the university, Dr. Habib Yakoob, confirmed that no formal strike had been declared yet. However, there is anticipation that the unions will soon direct their members to join the action.
In the University of Ilorin, sources indicated that the SSANU and NASU leadership plans to join the strike soon. Bayero University, Kano (BUK), is already experiencing the effects, with semester examinations and student registration activities halted due to the strike. This situation underlines the crucial role that SSANU and NASU play in managing university operations, including exam halls and essential services.
In the South-East, the strike has added to concerns, especially with the Monday sit-at-home order complicating strike assessments at institutions like the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). A lecturer at UNN mentioned that the financial issues behind the strike are widely felt, making a unified response from the university staff likely.
SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim commented on the indefinite strike, stating that its impact will become more noticeable over time. He noted that the unions had given the government a three-week ultimatum to address the unpaid salaries, emphasizing that past protests brought little progress.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government expressed disappointment with the union’s decision to strike, emphasizing that a new committee was recently established to address their concerns. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Education, stated that cooperation was expected during this process, especially considering the government’s commitment to resolving long-standing issues.
The ongoing strike in Nigerian universities highlights a serious crisis in the education sector, impacting numerous students and staff. This situation underscores the pressing need for government action to address non-academic staff grievances and restore stability in the nation’s universities.
