ASUU: SSANU, NASU, NAAT to join strike September 11

More trouble seem to be brewing for the Federal Government, as
all major non-teaching staff unions of Nigerian public universities
have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike from September
11.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), of Senior Staff Association of
Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of
Universities, NASU and the National Association of Academic
Technologists (NAAT), made this known yesterday in Abuja.

President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, explained that the strike was
as a result of Federal Government’s failure to honour the agreement
it entered into with the non teaching staff unions in 2009 on a
variety of issues confronting the university system, including
welfare.

According to him, these agreements were freely entered into
through the instrumentality of collective bargaining.

“Following the agreements, we had for eight years, patiently and
understandingly awaited action from government to consummate the
terms of the agreements.

Unfortunately, government has not been responsive to these
issues and where actions appear to have been taken on any of them,
they have been implemented in the breach.

“In between time, we had engaged in various consultations and
dialogue with government on the issues at stake. Letters had been
written, and protests had been made to no avail

Through various organs of government, particularly the offices
of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Employment, we had
made representations on our issues which have largely been
ignored.

“Rather than heed to our demands, matters have continued to
worsen.

Our universities have continued to deteriorate. The poor
governance system in the universities which brought the
universities to their knees has perpetrated itself to the point
that our rankings amongst the comity of world-class universities
are deplorable.

“If an agreement was signed in 2009 and now in 2017, we are
still demanding for the implementation of such agreement, does it
not show that we have been exceedingly patient?

Our patience however seems to have run to an end, particularly
when the Federal Government appears to be toeing the dangerous path
of taking the non-teaching staff unions for granted.

More trouble seem to be brewing for the Federal Government, as
all major non-teaching staff unions of Nigerian public universities
have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike from September
11.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), of Senior Staff Association of
Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of
Universities, NASU and the National Association of Academic
Technologists (NAAT), made this known yesterday in Abuja.

President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, explained that the strike was
as a result of Federal Government’s failure to honour the agreement
it entered into with the non teaching staff unions in 2009 on a
variety of issues confronting the university system, including
welfare.

According to him, these agreements were freely entered into
through the instrumentality of collective bargaining.

“Following the agreements, we had for eight years, patiently and
understandingly awaited action from government to consummate the
terms of the agreements.

Unfortunately, government has not been responsive to these
issues and where actions appear to have been taken on any of them,
they have been implemented in the breach.

“In between time, we had engaged in various consultations and
dialogue with government on the issues at stake. Letters had been
written, and protests had been made to no avail

Through various organs of government, particularly the offices
of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Employment, we had
made representations on our issues which have largely been
ignored.

“Rather than heed to our demands, matters have continued to
worsen.

Our universities have continued to deteriorate. The poor
governance system in the universities which brought the
universities to their knees has perpetrated itself to the point
that our rankings amongst the comity of world-class universities
are deplorable.

“If an agreement was signed in 2009 and now in 2017, we are
still demanding for the implementation of such agreement, does it
not show that we have been exceedingly patient?

Our patience however seems to have run to an end, particularly
when the Federal Government appears to be toeing the dangerous path
of taking the non-teaching staff unions for granted.