NASU, SSANU Suspend Strike as FG Begins Disbursement of Withheld Salaries
By Okafor Joseph Afam
November 4, 2024
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have called off their indefinite strike in federal universities, originally launched in response to withheld salaries.
In a statement issued to state chairpersons nationwide, the unions announced that the strike would be suspended starting November 5, following recent actions by the federal government to address outstanding payment issues. On November 2, the government initiated the disbursement of funds to cover previously withheld salaries.
The indefinite strike, which began last Monday, was rooted in a long-standing dispute over salaries that had been withheld since 2022. Back in 2022, non-academic university staff salaries were frozen after their participation in an eight-month strike, with only four months of salaries released to teaching staff in 2023. This partial release, authorized by President Bola Tinubu, sparked allegations of discrimination among NASU and SSANU members, who felt unjustly excluded.
Prolonged negotiations between the unions and the ministries of labor, education, and finance have seen multiple rounds of dialogue, with little progress until now.
In the statement, union leaders expressed their intent to suspend the strike temporarily: “The leadership of the joint action committee, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one month, effective Tuesday, 5th November 2024.”
Additionally, the unions indicated that negotiations over the remaining two months of withheld salaries, N50 billion in earned allowances, arrears of 25/35 percent, and a proposed wage award are still ongoing, with discussions showing signs of movement.
