The Joint Action Committee (JAC) leadership of the non-teaching staff unions of universities says it will go ahead with its nationwide strike on February 5 to compel the President Muhammadu Buhari regime to address their demands.

The JAC non-teaching staffs are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of the Universities (NASU).

Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary, said this in a statement jointly signed by Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, on Thursday, in Abuja.

The JAC of the two unions, NASU and SSANU, had last week threatened to embark on strike on February 5, to press home its demands.

The demands included rectifying inconsistencies in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of minimum wage arrears, delay in renegotiation with government, NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement, among others.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, and other government officials had met at a conciliation meeting on Wednesday, to address most of the unions’ demands.

A joint committee was set up to address the unions’ complaints and given 48 hours, to communicate possible dates for the next meeting.

According to Mr. Adeyemi, in view of the meeting’s outcome, the JAC of NASU and SSANU at the branches was directed to convene joint general meetings on Friday, February 5.

“This is to give reports on the outcome of the conciliation meeting and pass resolutions on the way forward. The resolutions of the branches must reach the respective National Secretariats on or before Tuesday, February 9.”

“In the meantime, the nationwide strike takes effect from 12 midnight, February 5, 2021, pending any contrary resolution by the branches,” he said.

(NAN)