Withheld Salaries: SSANU, NASU threaten to shut down universities, give two-week ultimatum
Two unions in tertiary institutions say they cannot guarantee industrial harmony if the federal government fails to pay their four months’ withheld salaries in two weeks.
The unions are the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the unions made their position known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, on Thursday in Abuja.
The letter titled, ‘Re-Four months withheld salaries: Demand for immediate payment’, was signed by NASU general secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU president Mohammed Ibrahim.
In the letter, the unions recalled that the JAC of NASU and SSANU had embarked on a one-week warning strike between March 18 and 24.
“This is to protest the denial of the arrears of four months’ salaries withheld between May and August 24, 2022. Following a series of letters and the assurances of the payment, we write to remind the Honourable Minister of our various letters, engagements, and assurances towards the payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU.
“We wish to express our regrets and dismay that, up to date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members. We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members,” it said.
The unions said the government had negated the spirit of collective bargaining and built distrust.
They added that the government’s deafening silence and failure to pay the withheld salaries created high agitation and contention among their members in the universities and inter-university centres.
“This is such that we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on university campuses.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate payment of the four months’ withheld salaries to our members not later than two weeks from the date of this correspondence, failing which we will be left with no option than to shut down the universities and inter-university centres,” it said.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Economy
Dangote Refinery cuts petrol price by N25 per litre
The refinery announced the price adjustment on Tuesday.
Politics
CSOs reject Akpabio-led Senate’s conditional e-transmission of election results
“The conditional language ‘provided if it fails and it becomes impossible to transmit’ introduces troubling discretion in the results management process,” said the CSOs.
Sport
2027 African Schools Games: NSC inaugurates 28-member LOC
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja by the NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko.
Abuja
Presidency, health ministry partner to prioritise women’s health
“There is a lack of knowledge on how to access and understand the services the government has provided,” said Ms Steinacker.
Rights
Stakeholders seek better welfare for magistrates in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina
The magistrates have been pushing for improved welfare packages, including judicial autonomy, official vehicles, higher salaries, and better working conditions.
States
16 ISWAP terrorists eliminated, 11 kidnapped victims rescued in Borno: Military
Troops of the Joint Task Force said they killed 16 ISWAP terrorists and rescued 11 kidnapped victims in a series of coordinated counter-offensives across Borno.
