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Tag: NASU

  • Unions direct university workers to commence nationwide strike from tomorrow

    Unions direct university workers to commence nationwide strike from tomorrow

    Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of the Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) have been directed to embark on a nationwide strike from Friday.

    The directive was issued in a statement signed by the leaders of both university staff associations on Thursday.

    Representatives of the federal government met with the unions on Tuesday, but the workers said the outcome was “not satisfactory enough to” assure them that government would meet their demands.

    The unions are asking, among other demands, for the government to rectify inconsistencies in the payroll of its members and pay minimum wage arrears.

    The strike action, if followed through, could cripple most government-run universities.

    The universities were shut for most of 2020 due to a nine-month strike carried out by academic workers and closures necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Amid a second wave of the pandemic sweeping through the country, the National Universities Commission in January urged universities to re-open and commence academic activities.

    Friday’s strike could hamper the much-awaited restart.

    In a statement signed by the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and the SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said it would meet on Friday to “pass resolutions on the way forward” after its Tuesday meeting with the federal government.

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

    Its Tuesday meeting with the government had been attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, the acting Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, the Director of Tertiary at the Federal Ministry of Education and the Director of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    But the unions felt the government representation wasn’t adequate.

    The Joint Action Committee leadership “noted that the quality of representation of Government and the fact that while the officials were quite relevant to the meeting, their mandate to effectively commit government on the issues in contention was not satisfactory enough to gain the confidence of the JAC leadership,” the statement said.

    “The position was adequately conveyed to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

  • Resumption hopes dashed as SSANU, NASU commence strike today

    Resumption hopes dashed as SSANU, NASU commence strike today

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) will on Monday (today) begin a 14-day warning strike.

    The unions announced this in a letter, dated September 28, 2020, and jointly signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Samson Ugwoke and addressed to branch chairmen of both unions.

    The letter reads: “Kindly recall earlier information on the above subject matter wherein it was conveyed that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU would embark on a 14-day industrial action immediately universities resume, following the COVID-19 lockdown.

    “Following the recent directives from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to Vice Chancellors for the immediate resumption/safe reopening of universities, you are hereby directed to begin a 14-day warning strike effective from October 5 to 19, 2020.”

    The two unions said the warning strike could snowball into full-blown action, if their demands are not addressed by the Federal Government.

  • BREAKING: Massive protest hits LASU; VC, students locked out

    BREAKING: Massive protest hits LASU; VC, students locked out

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) on Monday locked out the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Olanrewaju Fagboun in protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that both unions that also locked out students of the institution are protesting against the non implementation of their salaries increment as promised by the Lagos State government.

    All attempts by the VC to dialogue with members of the unions were not successful as they insist that no one will be allowed into the university premises until their demands are met by the State Government.

    The protesters blocked the main entrance of the university. The free flow of vehicular movement was hindered by the protesting members who gathered as early as 7:00 am and prevented both students and lecturers from gaining entrance into the institution.

    The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu two weeks earlier announced that tertiary institutions in the State would be reopened today, September 14, 2020 after been shut for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolve to intervene with a view to halting the impending industrial action threatened by the members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).
    This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Aisha Jubril Dukku (Gombe, APC) on the matter on the floor of the House.
    Dukku while debating the motion noted that NASU had recently mobilized its members to embark on strike on Monday July 22, 2019 against the Federal Government’s non challant attitude to the workers.
    She further noted that there is discrimination against the non-academic staff of educational institutions in the country by their other colleagues.
    The lawmaker added that the way and manner monies are being shared in the universities in Nigeria is against international best practices.
    She added that one year after agreement was reached with the Federal Government on the issue of payment of the workers, money is yet to be released to them in the universities.
    She also pointed out that as of a right, government should not deny these university workers what is their own right.
    Also speaking in support,Hon.T.J Yusuff (Kogi, PDP) stated that whatever should be done to bring the workers to a negotiating table ought to be done quickly by the authorities concerned.
    He added that the failure to act on the part of those concerned is causing the nation more harm than good.
    Other lawmakers notably Hon. Bulus Maren (Plateau, PDP) and Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina, APC) also spoke in support of the motion saying that it is imperative for the government to address the issue.
    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote and it was overwhelmingly voted for by the lawmakers.
    The Speaker further said that NASU should suspend the strike pending the outcome of the intervention by the House on it.

  • BREAKING: NASU, SSANU suspend nationwide strike

    After three months, The Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian universities on Wednesday announced the suspension of their strike action.

    The staff, members of three unions, made of the Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) National Association of Academic Technologists, (NAAT), announced the suspension of the three month and 10 days old strike.

    Samson Ugwoke, the National Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the three unions announced suspension on Wednesday at a press briefing.

    He said members of the three unions have been directed to resume on March 15, 2018.

    “We shall not hesitate to resume the strike if government reneges on the agreements reached or delays in any aspects,” he said.

    The workers commenced the strike on December 4, 2017.

    Recall TheNewsGuru had yesterday reported that the federal government says it will source for N8 billion within five weeks to pay the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this at a resolution reached after a reconciliation meeting with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.

    The resolution was jointly signed by Mr. Ngige, NAAT President, Sani Suleiman, NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, SSANU President Samson Ugwoke and Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education.

    Ngige, also said part of the eight billion would also be used to pay members of the Academic Staff Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the University of llorin (UNILORIN), who were not paid at the last disbursement.

    He also said that the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission was to rework the December 15 Call Circular on University Staff Schools.

  • Panic in Nigerian universities as NAAT, NASU, SSANU resume suspended strike

    The non-academic staff unions of Nigerian universities (NASU) have resumed their suspended strike.

    The unions, members of NAAT, NASU, and SSANU, announced the resumption of the strike in a joint statement on Thursday night.

    They said the strike will resume on Monday, December 3.

    The statement was signed by the national presidents of NAAT, Sani Sulaimon; NASU, Chris Ani; and SSANU, Samson Ugwoke.

    The workers said they reject the mode of sharing the recent financial allocation to universities.

    “We wrote a letter to the federal ministry of education to explain the criteria for the allocation and we gave them seven days notice to do the needful. But the date has elapsed without a response from the federal government,” they said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the unions had earlier suspended their strike and asked their members to resume work on September 25 after signing a memorandum of understanding with the federal government.

    They gave the federal government one month to start the implementation of the agreement; but said on Thursday that the government is yet to meet their demands after two months of signing the agreement.

     

  • Unionism: Bello bans activities of NLC, SSANU, NASU, ASUP, others in Kogi institutions

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday announced the ban on the activities of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of trade unions and all forms of trade unionism in state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Bello, who made the announcement in a broadcast in Lokoja on Wednesday accused trade unionism in tertiary institutions of impeding government holistic reforms.

    He said he had respect for the rights of all citizens to responsibly associate and pursue their welfare within the ambits of the law and norms of a democratic society.

    The governor said his administration had made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of Civil Servants in the State.

    He reiterated his respect for the rights of labour unions in relations to the responsibilities of the owners and proprietors of tertiary academic institutions.

    Bello, however, regretted that the state-owned tertiary institutions’ trade unionism had let itself to impeding government’s efforts to carry out “holistic reforms in the civil service through its unjustified industrial actions.

    “The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position,” he said.

    The governor said there was evidence of massive embezzlement at Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose.

    Bello assured that his government remained committed to meeting its obligations to all genuine employees of the state as promptly as available resources would permit.

    “Government will work to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar, henceforth, in all basic education, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in Kogi State.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, and except where specified otherwise, references herein to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by Kogi State are referred to:

    “The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and The Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN).

    “Others are the National Associations of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and any other Union operating in any tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State Government,” he said.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • JUST IN: NASU, SSANU, NAAT suspend strike

    The non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities operating under the aegis of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologist, NAAT have suspended their strike.

    The staff, members of the three unions, NASU, SSANU, and NAAT, announced the suspension of the 11 days old strike on Thursday.

    Sam Ugwoke, the national president of the Joint Action Committee of three unions, announced the suspension at a media briefing in Abuja.

    Ugwoke said the strike was being suspended for a month to allow the government meet their demands.

    He enjoined government to “ensure compliance” with agreements reached with the unions.

     

  • FG reaches agreement with SSANU, NASU as unions move to suspend strike

    The Federal Government has reached an agreement with the Joint Action Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU and National Association of Academic Technologist, NAAT to suspend their strike after an eight-hour meeting in Abuja.

    The SSANU President, Samson Ugwoke disclosed this after the meeting which began at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and ended 12:20 a.m. on Thursday.

    “The three-page agreement was signed and endorsed by all of us; We are taking our document and we will make our pronouncement soon,” he said without disclosing the details of the agreement.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said both parties had reached a consensus which would be passed to the union executive members for deliberation.

    “Based on this conclusion, we all agreed that the JAC will consult its organ with a view to calling off the strike as soon as possible, ” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, also declared the commencement of its nationwide with effect from Thursday.

    Chairman of the Union, Mr. Biobelemoye Josiah, who announced this on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara State noted that the JOHETSU had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum on September 14, 2017, to again draw the attention of the government to their demands but no meaningful action was taken.

    He said, “This lackadaisical attitude of the government has necessitated the resolve of JOHESU to call out all our members nationwide to withdraw their services and stay at home with effect from midnight of today (Wednesday) even after waiting patiently until this hour on the approval for adjustments of CONHESS.

  • SSANU, NASU, NAAT join ASUU, declare total, indefinite strike

    The coalition of Nigerian university workers have vowed to join their academic colleagues beginning from Monday to press home their demands from the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had earlier embarked on an indefinite strike on August 8 but have since been in negotiations with the federal government.

    At a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU; and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, said the unions will begin a “total and comprehensive indefinite” strike due to the federal government’s alleged failure to fulfil a 2009 agreement with the unions.

    The chairman of JAC who is also the National President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, said the industrial action will begin on September 11.

    He said the workers will not provide even skeletal services during the strike.

    “Concessions shall not be granted while all our members are to stay at home till further notice, unless as directed by JAC through their respective presidents,” Mr. Ugwoke said.

    Apart from the 2009 agreement the unions said was reached with government and a Memorandum of Understanding reached this year, the unions said they were demanding payment of earned allowance to their members, review of governance system in universities, improved funding of universities in line with UNESCO recommendations and provision of infrastructure in the universities.

    They are also asking for payment of salary shortfalls being owed, implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement on university staff schools, registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, NUPEMCO, and implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for technologists.

    They also want improvement of teaching and learning facilities in the universities, stemming of the tide of corruption in the university system, showing of commitment in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University unions Agreements and ensuring the headship of non-teaching units by non-teaching staff employed for the purpose of those units.

    The union also said it is essential for government to monitor the funds being released to universities.

    “It is not about releasing money, but let it be used for the purpose it was released for, whether it is government fund or internal generated revenue. Government knows those that control funds in the university, ” the JAC chairman said.

    He said though the government was not given a timeline to fulfil these demands, a memorandum of understanding was signed after a January 18 meeting. He said the understanding should be implemented “as soon as possible.”

    “In 2015, the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, acting on behalf of the federal government, directed heads of institutions and agencies to stop the inclusion of workers in the university staff school from the payrolls of their institutions and based on the directive, over 2000 of our members were technically retrenched,” Mr. Ugwoke said.

    The unions said they had given the federal government a 35-day notice before they decided to commence the strike on Monday.

    “Until we embarked on the five days warning strike in January, the federal government never called us for dialogue,” he recalled.

    “If an agreement was signed in 2009 and now in 2017 we are still demanding for the implementation of such agreement, does it not show that we have been exceedingly patient?

    “Our Charter of Demands has been with the government before ASUU went on strike,” Mr. Ugwoke said, stressing their decision to go on strike was not related to the ongoing action by their academic staff colleagues.