From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have decided to embark on industrial actions beginning tomorrow Monday 8th, July 2024, where all the branches of the two Unions hold a general meeting to sensitize their members on the insensitivity of the Government to their plights, follow a one day protest scheduled to hold on Tuesday 9th, then a national protest to hold on the 18th July 2024, after which the Joint Action Committee (JAC) will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence.
This was contained in a circular to all branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU in the university and inter-university centres jointly signed and issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja by the President of SSANU, Comrade Prince Peters Adeyemi JP and Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, General Secretary NASU said given the disappointment and failure of government to address grievances of the two Unions the Joint Action Committee has decided on a series of industrial actions.
According to the statement, “the National body of the Joint Action Committee (JAC)of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, 4th July 2024 to appraise and take a position on the current situation in respect of the withheld (4) four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in University and Inter-University Centres.
“Similarly, the National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC).
“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa.
“The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.
“Given this disappointment and failure of Government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of Industrial actions which include the following;
“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July 2024 to sensitize members on the insensitivity of the Government to our plights.
“A one-day protest should be held on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 at each branch simultaneously.
“Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and the Press/ media is adequately mobilized.
“A national protest which will be held in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence,” the statement stated.
