Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff
Association of Nigerian Universities will begin a five-day warning
strike from Monday, August 19, following alleged delay of the
Federal Government in addressing their grievances.
One of the contentious areas is the Earned Allowances which the
non-teaching staff unions claimed they were shortchanged in the
sharing formula.
They said that out of the N23 billion released to the four
unions in the university, the Academic Staff Union of Universities
allegedly took over about eighty per cent of the money, leaving
only twenty per cent for the three unions.
They also lamented the inability of government to obey court
judgment, especially the judgment of the Industrial Court in 2016
that directed government to reinstate sacked workers of Staff
Schools, which had not been complied with and the re-negotiation of
the 2009 agreement.
The National Public Relations Officer of SSANU, Mr Salaam
Abdussobur, in a statement on Friday, said the one week strike
would commence on Monday.
He said, “Based on poor response from the federal government, it
is inevitable that a one-week strike action shall be held as from
Monday 19th to Friday 23rd August. This is following the expiration
of the 14 days ultimatum given to the Federal Government.
“We met with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education led
by the Permanent Secretary last week. While the meeting appeared
successful on its face value, the resolutions are yet to be backed
up by any correspondence or digest as agreed at the meeting
“This is not the first time that meetings would be held and we
will take them by their words only to be disappointed by their
actions.
“Our members, being our principals, have contended that for all
decisions reached with government, there must be a level of
corresponding actions that show their sincerity and commitment to
those decisions. If the actions do not correspond, we must continue
with our agitations.
“So, a five-day warning, being part of the activities lined up
in our agitations, have been resolved to proceed between 19th to
23rd.
“After the warning strike, another review shall be made which
will determine the way forward,” he said.
(NAN)