University unions commence nationwide strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced an indefinite strike starting Monday, March 18, 2024.

The decision follows a seven-day warning strike protesting the federal government’s failure to pay withheld salaries.

A joint memo issued by the SSANU and NASU Joint Action Committee instructed members across university and inter-university center campuses to fully comply with the directive.

Signed by SSANU’s National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU’s General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the memo emphasized strict adherence to the strike.

“Please note that the 7-day warning strike should be comprehensive and total as no concession should be given in any guise,” the memo reads.

“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in the Universities and Inter-University Centres.”

The unions expressed disappointment with the government’s handling of their grievances, recalling a similar nationwide strike in 2022.

The previous strike was initiated to protest unfulfilled promises and insufficient university funding.

Despite the workers’ demands, the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration enforced a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, withholding salaries.

SSANU criticized the government’s stance, questioning the justification for the ‘no work, no pay policy.’

However, Buhari continues withholding salaries until he left office.