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…Issues 2-week ultimatum
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened to shut down universities if the federal government fails to pay its members the four months withheld salaries within the next two weeks.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, the two non-teaching staff unions accused the government of neglect and insincerity. The letter, titled “Re- Four (4) months withheld salaries: Demand for immediate payment,” was signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim. The unions expressed concerns that they can no longer ensure industrial harmony within the universities.
The letter read: “The Honourable Minister would recall that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU embarked on a one week warning strike between March 18th, 2024 and March 24th 2024 to protest the denial of the arrears of four (4) months salaries withheld between May and August 24th, 2022.
“Following a series of letters and the assurances of the payment, we write to remind the Honourable Minister of our various letters, engagements, assurances towards the payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU.
“We wish to express our regrets and dismay that up till date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members.
“We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of the Government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members.”
Accusing the government of negating the spirit of collective bargaining which has built distrust, the unions said, “The deafening silence of government and failure to pay the withheld salaries is creating high level of agitations and contentions among our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres such that we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on University campuses.
“We therefore demand the immediate payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries to our members not later than two (2) weeks from the date of this correspondence, failing which we will be left with no option than to shut down the Universities and Inter-University Centres.”
