SSANU to begin strike Thursday over unpaid four salaries

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) says it would commence industrial action from Thursday 4 July if four months salaries owed its members by the government are not paid.

SSANU issued the threat in a communique issued after its 48th Regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

The communique noted several critical resolutions and concerns affecting its members and the Nigerian university system at large.

Addressing the issue of unpaid salaries, the NEC expressed deep dismay over the federal government’s failure to honour salary agreements, citing selective payments to some unions while neglecting others.

SSANU said that despite assurances from government officials and the suspension of a previous warning strike earlier in the year, its members remain unpaid for four months.

In addition to salary arrears, SSANU raised concerns over the inadequate N35,000 wage award meant to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, which has not been consistently paid across federal institutions. The NEC urged immediate resumption of wage payments and called on state governments to fulfill their obligations to staff in state universities.

Furthermore, the NEC expressed frustration with the delayed negotiation and implementation of a new National Minimum Wage (NMW), stressing its urgency in light of rising living costs and inflation. SSANU firmly rejected the Southern Governors Forum’s proposal to negotiate NMW independently, asserting that the federal government should maintain exclusive jurisdiction over this matter.

The communique also called for the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement between SSANU and the federal government, emphasising the need for urgent action on this long standing issue. SSANU applauded the reconstitution of Governing Councils in federal universities but criticized the omission of experienced educationists and technocrats from these appointments.

Turning to broader societal concerns, the NEC expressed grave concern over escalating insecurity nationwide, which has directly impacted university staff and administrators. They called on the government to adopt more stringent measures to combat criminal activities threatening the nation’s stability.

Additionally, SSANU highlighted the deplorable state of Nigerian roads and the erratic power supply, both of which adversely affect economic activities and university operations. The NEC urged the government to prioritise road rehabilitation and find lasting solutions to the country’s energy crisis.

Finally, the NEC condemned attempts by state governments to impose civil service rules on universities, emphasizing the distinct nature of university administration and staff.

In conclusion, SSANU called for prompt action on these pressing issues to alleviate the suffering of university staff and ensure the effective operation of Nigeria’s higher education institutions.

“NEC in session once again expresses utmost dismay at the unprecedented level of Government’s insensitivity and deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system by adopting the divide and rule policy to set Unions on a collision course through preferential treatment of one union over others. Recall SSANU and other unions were compelled by the Government to embark on strike in 2022 over Government’s refusal to honour a collective Bargaining Agreement willingly signed by all parties. At the end of the strike, the then Buhari Government further signed an elaborate agreement among which was the non victimization clause.

“However, the Government made a selective payment of the withheld salaries. While we do not begrudge the payment made to our colleagues, we expected the same gesture to be extended to SSANU and NASU that legally complied with all procedures before embarking on the Industrial action.

“Despite all promises and media hype by the Ministers of Education and Labour, including the House of Representatives to pay these arrears, the Government has continued to dribble SSANU, even after the mutual agreement to suspend the one week warning strike in March this year. NEC in session deliberated on the matter and unanimously approved a long drawn comprehensive industrial action after concurrence with the Joint Action Committee meeting of SSANU and NASU scheduled for Thursday 4th July, 2024, if Government fails to pay the four months salary arrears,” the statement read in part.