The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced plans to protest the government’s withholding of their four-month salaries.
The unions have directed their branches to hold individual protests on July 9, with a larger joint protest scheduled for July 18.
According to a resolution obtained by TheCable on Friday, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU indicated that a strike could follow these protests.
The unions are demanding the release of the four-month salaries that were withheld during an eight-month strike in 2022.
These salaries were withheld by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months of withheld salaries for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
SSANU and NASU, excluded from these payments, accused the government of unfair treatment and discrimination against non-academic staff.
Since then, the unions have been in conflict with the federal government, engaging in discussions with the education and labour ministries.
The JAC, after a recent meeting, expressed that these engagements have not demonstrated a convincing commitment to paying the withheld salaries.In response, SSANU and NASU have planned a series of industrial actions.
This includes a general meeting on July 8 to inform members of the government’s stance, followed by the two planned protests and another meeting to decide on the possibility of an indefinite strike based on the government’s response.