FG Moves to Avert Strike by Varsity Staff, Fixes Talks with Unions for Wednesday

*SSANU, NASU direct members to withdraw services

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has urged the non-teaching staff of federal universities not to embark on the warning strike scheduled to commence today (Monday).
The government said that it has fixed meeting with the leaders of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to be held on or before Wednesday this week to iron out issues.

According to the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Emameh Gabriel, the minister has sent letters to the affected unions inviting to a meeting this week to try to resolve their grievances.
Emameh who spoke with THISDAY yesterday said that government was not formally notified by the unions before declaring strike.
“Talks are underway and there will be no strike. While SSANU and NASU threatened to strike without formally notifying the government, communication channels remain open.

“The minister has also emphasised the importance of following established procedures. She reminded the unions last week that adhering to these guidelines is essential for resolving issues.
“Strike is averted, for now.  A strike has also been avoided for the immediate future. The union leaders are scheduled to meet with the minister in the middle of the week, Wednesday tentatively, to discuss their concerns,” he said.
But even as the federal government seeks to halt the strike, the  unions have directed its members to commence the one-week warning strike nationwide beginning from Monday.

The warning strike is to protest non-payment of the four months withheld salaries as approved by President Bola Tinubu.
A circular by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two university-based unions dated March 18, 2024 and signed by General Secretary, NASU, Peters  Adeyemi, and President, SSANU Mohammed lbrahim said the directive became imperative following the failure of government to listen to their demands.
In the circular, the unions stated: “The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU has inundated the federal government with the need to pay the withheld four months’ salaries of our members in the federal universities and inter-university centres as done for our academic counterpart to no avail.

“Having waited patiently for the ultimatum to expire without positive response to our demand by government, this is to direct our members in the universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to commence a seven-day warning strike effective Monday,  March 18, 2024 in the first instance”.
The unions had earlier issued an ultimatum to federal government demanding the implementation of the agreement on 25 per cent and 35 per cent pay rise reached in 2023 before the commencement of new minimum wage negotiations.
They described the withholding of the members salaries as a breach of the post-strike agreement with government on non-victimisation of its members who participated in the six-month strike.

In the communique signed by SSANU president,  Ibrahim, the unions listed 26 federal and state universities that are still owing their members arrears of the national minimum wage adjustment.
They demanded that federal government should urgently pay four months withheld salaries to members, failing which they will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the institutions.

In the communique released at the end of its 47th National Executive Council meeting (NEC) held at the Federal University of Technology Akure in Ondo state, SSANU said it viewed the delay in the implementation of the approved wage award and payment of withheld salaries as the handiwork of saboteurs.
“NEC in session therefore calls on the relevant authorities of government to immediately implement the directive of Mr. President by paying our members the four months withheld salaries, failing which NEC has approved a one-week warning strike in conjunction with our sister union, NASU,” he stated.

SSANU said that federal government had in 2023 awarded a wage increase of 25 per cent and 35 per cent to its members for which a corresponding salary structure had even been circulated via a letter from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in September last year.
However, the union expressed sadness that over six months after, the wage award has not been implemented in the monthly salaries of members even though the sum of N100 billion was provided for in the budget for that purpose.
SSANU said it would want the federal government to  implement  the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage increase by factoring it into the monthly salaries of members
It lamented that the value of the salary increase had already been eroded, adding that any further delay will drastically reduce the purchasing power and value of the money.

“We demand this implementation before renegotiation of the new national minimum wage for which government has already set up a committee.

“NEC also demands that government expedites action on the renegotiation of the new national minimum wage as the current national minimum wage has completely been made useless by the hyperinflation currently ravaging the country,” it added.

SSANU also urged the federal government to stop foot-dragging on the issue of re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement and commence the process.

In addition, the union expressed dismay over alleged delay by government to pay members the outstanding earned allowances, despite several letters and correspondences and interactions written to it .