The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have jointly given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to address overdue salary payments.
In a letter directed to Minister of Education Tahir Mamman, the Joint Action Committee comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) conveyed their dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s handling of salary payments. Accusing the government of insincerity, the unions issued a stern ultimatum. They demanded the immediate release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries owed to their members within a strict timeframe of two weeks from the date of the correspondence.
The letter, signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, explicitly warned that failure to meet this deadline would force them to take drastic action. Specifically, they threatened to initiate a shutdown of universities and inter-university centers across the country. This firm stance underscores their determination to ensure their members’ financial rights are promptly addressed and respected by the authorities.
‘Insincerity and Neglect’
They expressed “regrets and dismay that up to date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members,” saying the development ” builds distrust”.
“We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of the government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members,” the unions said.
“This also negates the spirit of collective bargaining and builds distrust. The deafening silence of the government and failure to pay the withheld salaries is creating a 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.”
The most recent threat is coming months after SSANU and NASU shut campuses across the nation, cutting off power supply and administrative services. The strike lasted for one week – from March 11 to 18.
