The Federal Government has appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to call off their seven-day warning strike.
Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry on Monday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU had directed its members to embark on a seven- day warning strike over the non-payment of four months withheld salaries.
Recall that the President Bola Tinubu had in October 2023, directed that the university workers that embarked on prolonged strike in 2022 should be paid four months.
Recall also that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who were part of the unions that embarked on the strike had been paid their own withheld four months salaries.
Onyejeocha also expressed displeasure at the action of the unions, which she described as a total disregard of Federal Government’s concerted effort to address the concern of the unions.
According to her, the Ministry was not officially notified by the unions of their intention to proceed on a seven-day warning strike.
“”This is contrary to the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act.
“The ministry got wind of the intended warning strike and it reached out to the leadership of the unions for an emergency meeting in order to avert the strike.
“Unfortunately, a physical meeting could not be arranged between the unions and the federal government, but a tele-discussion took place between their leadership and the ministry,” she said.
Onyejeocha said that consequently, the ministry suggested another date, Monday 18th March, for a proper conciliation meeting.
She added that she believed that on the basis of that discussion, the intended strike would be put on hold pending the outcome of the meeting; but this date was rejected by the unions.
The minister however, maintained that strike did not serve any useful purpose and should only be resorted to as a last option after exhausting every conciliation effort.
Onyejocha appealed to SSANU and NASU to step back from their hard-line stance and meet the federal government at the table for conciliation.
She however, appealed to all Nigerians to always take steps that were beneficial to the well-being of the country and the citizens.
Pay NASU, SSANU withheld salaries to avoid academic drift – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU)and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President urged the Federal Government to pay the four months outstanding salaries to avoid drift in the academic sector.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the NLC President said at a time confidence was being restored to the public universities, the worst thing the government could do is to engineer another strike.
It will be recalled that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU had issued a circular to its members to proceed on seven-day warning strike from 18th of March over non-payment of the salaries as approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The four months withheld salaries arose from the nationwide strike embarked upon by all unions in the public universities in the country.
While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was paid the withheld salaries in full, NASU and SSANU were allegedly denied of the full payment.
Ajaero said: “There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.
“We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.
“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment.
“By so doing government is clearly courting avoidable industrial dispute,” he said.
The NLC President stressed that the effects of the strike on the parties would be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents.
He, therefore, urged the government to expeditiously pay up the outstandings salaries
“We advise government not to take for granted the maturity of these unions,” he said.
