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Tag: Strike

  • UniAbuja: CONUA states position on ASUU strike

    UniAbuja: CONUA states position on ASUU strike

    The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike  by the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Chairman, CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Prof. Abdul Buba, said this when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah in Abuja on Friday.

    Buba said the University system could not be grounded because it had no Governing Council, a decision that informed the industrial actions.

    “We believe in stable academic calendar and that’s why we believe that there are other ways of handling labour issues rather than strike actions.

    “CONUA addresses issues and not personalities. We also respect opinions of our members and not a predetermined objective of the leadership.

    ”We address issues without sentiments and meet with the right stakeholders in the pursue of our objectives.

    “We are conscious of the negative effects of strikes, and we believe in deploying relevant strategies that will yield positive results in modern age of innovation,” he said.

    He added that CONUA would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to pursue legitimate welfare for its members without dabbling with issues not of the concern to its members.

    “The ongoing strike in place in the university, CONUA is not part of it because we believe in academic and service delivery.

    “All these five points for the strike are baseless. Let me start with the issue of advertorial for the position of vice chancellor, initially if it were that the council is in place everything about employment both the employees and the principal officers start and end with the university governing council.

    “But in the absence of the university governing council, the law has no provision for the vice chancellor to appoint any successor so it is the responsibility of the government to do that. So, there is no way the VC can be accused.

    “This is because even the advertorial, if you watch and other advertorial that were placed by other universities, it was mentioning the ministry representing the government so this is baseless,” he said.

    Also, the CONUA Secretary, Prof. Issa Abdulraheem, urged the union to focus on the welfare of its members which was the sole role of establishing a union.

    “The union is established to cater for the welfare of its members, all the issues raised by the other union are baseless and have nothing to do with the staff welfare.

    “And so we believe that we have ways of handling issues with stakeholders without sentiments of personalising issues. All the points raised by the other unions are not in the interest of its members,”he said.

    On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah,  appreciated CONUA for its stance in not joining the strike, hoping that academic programme by ASUU would commence soon.

    The University of Abuja ASUU branch had embarked on a total and indefinite strike on May 2 over alleged university’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the university of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • UniAbuja ASUU Strike: CONUA dissociates self, says action baseless

    UniAbuja ASUU Strike: CONUA dissociates self, says action baseless

    The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike  by the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Chairman, CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Prof. Abdul Buba, said this when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah in Abuja on Friday.

    Buba said the University system could not be grounded because it had no Governing Council, a decision that informed the industrial actions.

    “We believe in stable academic calendar and that’s why we believe that there are other ways of handling labour issues rather than strike actions.

    “CONUA addresses issues and not personalities. We also respect opinions of our members and not a predetermined objective of the leadership.

    ”We address issues without sentiments and meet with the right stakeholders in the pursue of our objectives.

    “We are conscious of the negative effects of strikes, and we believe in deploying relevant strategies that will yield positive results in modern age of innovation,” he said.

    He added that CONUA would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to pursue legitimate welfare for its members without dabbling with issues not of the concern to its members.

    “The ongoing strike in place in the university, CONUA is not part of it because we believe in academic and service delivery.

    “All these five points for the strike are baseless.

    “Let me start with the issue of advertorial for the position of vice chancellor, initially if it were that the council is in place everything about employment both the employees and the principal officers start and end with the university governing council.

    “But in the absence of the university governing council, the law has no provision for the vice chancellor to appoint any successor so it is the responsibility of the government to do that. So, there is no way the VC can be accused.

    “This is because even the advertorial, if you watch and other advertorial that were placed by other universities, it was mentioning the ministry representing the government so this is baseless,” he said.

    Also, the CONUA Secretary, Prof. Issa Abdulraheem, urged the union to focus on the welfare of its members which was the sole role of establishing a union.

    “The union is established to cater for the welfare of its members, all the issues raised by the other union are baseless and have nothing to do with the staff welfare.

    “And so we believe that we have ways of handling issues with stakeholders without sentiments of personalising issues. All the points raised by the other unions are not in the interest of its members,”he said.

    On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah,  appreciated CONUA for its stance in not joining the strike, hoping that academic programme by ASUU would commence soon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the University of Abuja ASUU branch had embarked on a total and indefinite strike on May 2 over alleged university’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the university of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • UniAbuja breaks silence over ongoing ASUU strike

    UniAbuja breaks silence over ongoing ASUU strike

    The Management of the university of Abuja (UniAbuja) says academic and administrative activities on campus will go on in spite of  reported strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC) UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said this at a meeting with Provost, Deans, Directors and Heads of academic departments.

    A statement from the meeting, signed by Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    The vice chancellor described the strike as divisive and unnecessary, vowing that the management would never allow the university to be crippled again.

    “As far as the management of the university is concerned, this institution is not on strike.

    “Some people said they have declared a strike but all of us with the management have decided that our normal activities in the university must go on.

    “Our exam is going on, senate meeting will continue, everything we do as a university will continue, our calendar will not be disrupted any longer by the grace of God.

    “It is wrong to cripple the university over issues that are merely sentimental and some of which we have dialogued over and resolved, we are prepared not to allow this disruption again,” he said.

    He debunked all the reported allegations of the union which they claimed informed its declaration of indefinite strike.

    “Take for instance, the advert for the position of the vice-chancellor, we are not the only university that has advertised, we had the support and approval of the government.

    “The advert was done by the Minister of Education, all I did as vice- chancellor was to request, to ask for what is next and they decided this is what we must do.

    “And if you look at the advertisement from the beginning, this fact is very clear. It is only that they had to send it to us for execution that is all,” he explained.

    He also described the union’s allegations of illegal recruitment, promotion, delay in the election of deanship, and microfinance bank establishment as unfounded, adding that the university had followed due process in handling all these matters.

    He said the university ensured that relevant institutions concerned with oversights were contacted.

    On the issue of the election of deans and establishment of microfinance bank, he disclosed that the elections time table had long been publicised.

    He explained that the elections of four deans had been conducted so far.

    Na’Allah also said that the university management had invested over N200 million in the proposed Microfinance Bank over the ASUU’s N4 million.

    He said the investment had been made before the union wrote directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop granting the license for our operation.

    The vice-chancellor said his administration had been working hard to develop the university and would not fold its arms and allow a group of people to destabilise its calendar.

    “For over four years, our goal has been to lift this university much higher than it was, and this we have succeeded in doing by taking our academic and infrastructural developments to a world class level.

  • ASUU faction dissociates from UniAbuja strike

    ASUU faction dissociates from UniAbuja strike

    A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has dissociated itself from the strike action declared by the Union.

    The faction known as “Anti-Strike ASUU Members”, at a news conference, in Abuja, shortly, after the declaration of the strike by the ASUU chapter of the school on Thursday, said it would not join the strike.

    Recall that the ASUU branch of University of Abuja embarked on indefinite strike in the early hours of Thursday.

    Dr Abubakar Kari, the Dean of Students Affairs and former Convener, ASUU National Political Committee,  said the strike was to satisfy  personal interest, not the larger interest of ASUU members and the university.

    According to him, “Members of ASUU here standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent, rise to reassure students, parents and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University’s robust academic calendar.

    “We will continue to work for continuous opening of the university operations.

    “We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the university of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears.

    “A decision to go on an indefinite strike without, at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for, or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike.

    “So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand”.

    Speaking on the alleged advertorial for the, about-to-be vacant position of the Vice chancellor, Kari said, so far, five federal universities had advertised for the position of Vice Chancellors.

    “The question begging the mind of everyone, staffers and the public is why would ASUU, university of Abuja alone proceed on indefinite strike while University of Maiduguri, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi and others sustain the sanctity of stable academic calendar on their campuses?

    “We say, No, to strike over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja,” he said.

    The University of Abuja ASUU branch declared an indefinite strike to draw attention to developments bordering the union.

    The Chairman of the branch, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the union had resolved to embark on a total and indefinite strike with immediate effect.

    He said the strike became necessary, given the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the University of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • Ogun judiciary staff suspends strike

    Ogun judiciary staff suspends strike

    Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Ogun on Tuesday said they have suspended their indefinite strike action which began on April 8.

    The union announced this through a statement in Abeokuta signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Adewale Adenekan.

    The union had embarked on the strike over the non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance by the state government.

    The statement said its National Officers and the Ogun JUSUN Executive Committee members had on Monday held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    It said the meeting also had in attendance the state Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC).

    “After the meeting with the representatives of the State Government, the authenticity of the union’s demand was established and the State Government realised its mistakes in the failure to involve the JUSUN executive in the negotiation process which led to the approval and implementation of the Peculiar Allowance.

    “The state government said this was because JUSUN is not a member of JNC.

    “However, the bone of contention is now the timing of the implementation of the union’s demand, putting into consideration the imminent announcement by the Federal Government of the new minimum wage which is expected on May 1.

    “This will be billed for implementation between May and June 2024 for both Federal and State workers,” Adenekan stated.

    “After much discussion on the matter, it was agreed that JUSUN’s demands should be treated together with the full implementation of CONJUSS alongside the minimum/living wage negotiation and implementation,” he added.

    The union further said it was equally agreed that JUSUN would be given a slot in the technical committee for the negotiation and implementation of the minimum wage in the state.

    It pointed out that this would give the union an opportunity to effect its dem ands, as well as the full implementation of CONJUSS and other benefits.

    “This is a very difficult moment for both the leadership and members of the union, but we believe this is a fair agreement that will benefit the union and its members in the long term.

    “In view of the above, the National Officers and JUSUN leadership of Ogun State, having reviewed the proceedings of the meeting, decided to suspend the indefinite strike action,” Adenekan said.

    The union thereby directed all its members to resume work by Wednesday.

    “The union will continue to engage the State Government towards the actualisation of its demands.

    “We look forward to continui;rovide our esteemed members with excellent and quality leadership,” it stated.

  • Ogun judiciary workers commence indefinite strike on Monday

    Ogun judiciary workers commence indefinite strike on Monday

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ogun Branch, says it will embark on an indefinite strike from Monday.

    This is contained in a statement issued and jointly signed in Abeokuta on Sunday by the JUSUN Chairman, Ajiboye Olanrewaju, and the Publicity Secretary, Mr Adewale Adenekan.

    The statement says the strike is to protest the non-payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance to members of the union by the state government.

    According to the statement, the union decided to embark on an indefinite strike after the expiration of the 14-day additional ultimatum it gave the state government to meet their demand.

    It noted the union had embarked on a five-day warning strike to protest the non-payment of the peculiar allowance to the state judiciary workers.

    “The leadership of the union had forwarded necessary documents requested by representative of the Ogun Government since Friday, March 8, to Gov. Dapo Abiodun.

    “The document was also copied to Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, and Attorney-General of the state, including the approval by the National Salaries and Wages Commission to the NJC for payment of the peculiar allowance,” it read.

    According to the statement, the judiciary, as an independent body, is entitled to the allowance.

    “After due consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the JUSUN national leadership, we decided to give additional 14 days to the state government starting from March 18 to April 1 to allow it enough time to do the needful.

    “Every member of JUSUN in Ogun is directed to stay at their various homes beginning from Monday.

    “Please, don’t bother to come to the office until further notice from the leadership of the union,” it read.

  • Telecoms union threatens indefinite strike from April 4

    Telecoms union threatens indefinite strike from April 4

    The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has threatened to begin an indefinite strike on April 4.

    The union announced this in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Okonu Abdullahi, on Tuesday.

    Abdullahi said that the union resolved to go on strike because of the alleged unresolved issues between the union and sub-contractors linked with Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd.

    The sub-contractors to Huawei include Reime Group, All Streamenergy Solutions Ltd., Uppercrest Ltd., Tyllium Nigeria Ltd. and Specific Tools and Techniques Ltd.

    He also said that efforts by it and Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve its concerns did not work as the companies failed to make themselves available for conciliatory meetings.

    “It is in the light of this that the leadership of the union directed its members to begin an indefinite strike effective from April 4.

    “We implore Nigerians to bear with us during the period of the strike and the discomfort it may bring to them,” he said.

    According to him, the issues that will need urgent implementation include immediate recognition of the fundamental rights of the employees to freely associate with the union.

    He said that others issues are immediate remittance of membership dues into the union’s account and regularisation of the employment of union members on the Huawei projects.

    “Also important is the involvement of the union in the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement for the benefit of union members, among others,” he said.

  • SSANU ends warning strike

    SSANU ends warning strike

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has announced the end of its seven-day warning strike, to give more room for government to do the needful.

    President of the association, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, made the declaration at a virtual stakeholders forum, organised by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

    The forum, which also had Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational And Associated Institutions (NASU) in attendance, was on “Withheld Salaries vs Labour Crisis”.

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of affected university labour unions had, on March 18, directed members to down tools, following their four months withheld salaries and the non implementation of agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009.

    “We had a meeting with representatives of the Federal Government in Abuja on Wednesday and nothing tangible came out  concerning the issue.

    “Yes, they acknowledged the fact that we were on strike and that the action had paralysed activities on campuses of federal universities.

    “So, the meeting was nothing but an appeal to suspend the strike, while they do something as soon as possible.

    “Now, just imagine a situation where there is no water, no light, no mobilisation of graduates for NYSC, which are all responsibilities of our members in universities.

    “The strike will end by 12 midnight. We’ll go back to our various branches to review the outcome of the warning strike, as well as the recent meeting with the federal government, and from there agree on the next line of action.

    “We have given a window to do the needful and failure to meet their own side of the bargain will be met with drastic action, “ he warned.

    He noted that it was no longer news that government would make promises, only to renege on it, citing the 2009 renegotiation agreement as an instance.

    “We have the right to go on strike once we follow the due process. It could be a warning strike just like the one that is ending this night (Sunday).

    “No one can stifle us, or stop us from voicing out our pains.

    “We could picket our working places. We could also report to work without working and so forth.

    “All are lawful in the labour law. So, nobody can take them away from us.

    “ We are not asking for anything outside our rights. We cannot continue this way, because after all, we too are humans, we are also parents, with bills to pay and mouths to feed,” he said.

    The union leader blamed the present state of things on the government’s attitude toward the education sector.

    He said that members of unions were pained using strike as a last resort to drive home their demands, considering the impact it normally had on the students.

    “It is not that the university workers including SSANU like to go on strike, it is the government that always pushes us to apply that sanction. It is unfortunate for the government to take serious matters with levity.

    “Members of our various unions are very critical in the running of any given university system. We should be taken seriously, whenever we make demands like our counterpart union in the same system.

    “We deserve to be treated equally. There should be no preferential treatment. For government not to have paid us the withheld salaries like our sister union (ASUU), is a great disservice to us.

    “I want to say that we will continue to fight against this injustice until the right thing is done,” he said.

    He said that the best way to prevent incessant strikes in the entire education sector was to fund it adequately.

    “If you spend well in education, you spend less fighting insecurity, hunger, poverty and others. Government should take a cue from other climes.

    “So, the panacea to ending crisis in Nigerian universities, in fact, in the entire sector, is funding and more funding ,” he stated.

    He noted that since the struggle by members of the various unions to get government to do the needful, many of them had lost their lives in the last one and half years, due to lack of funds to access good healthcare.

    Mohammed also decried the issue of non autonomy in the university system, adding that the situation was creating issues for the smooth operation of the system.

    He also urged government to ensure that appointment of vice chancellors and principal officers of universities, especially the federal ones, should be based solely on merit, rather than through what he described as ‘godfatherism’.

    The SSANU leader said that same must be applied to appointment of members of Governing Councils across board.

  • ‘WAHALA de’! NLC orders members to picket Labour Party secretariats nationwide

    ‘WAHALA de’! NLC orders members to picket Labour Party secretariats nationwide

    The ‘wahala’ brewing between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the leadership of the Labour Party escalated on Wednesday, as the labour union instructed its state councils and political commission to picket Labour Party secretariats across the country.

    This was contained in a letter signed by the chairperson of the NLC Political Commission, Titus Amba, and the secretary, Chris Uyot.

    The letter was dated Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

    According to the letter, the directive is coming after a meeting of the NLC National Political Commission and the leadership of the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees, which took place virtually on March 19, 2024.

    “That given the intransigence of the National Chairman of the Labour Party to unilaterally hold a National Convention of the Labour Party, financial rascality and contempt for the leadership of the NLC, the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees should mobilise workers to picket all the State Secretariats of the Labour Party, scheduled for Wednesday, 20th March 2024,” the letter partly read.

    The National Working Committee of the Labour Party had accused Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, of making desperate attempts to replace Julius Abure, the Labour Party National Chairman.

    The allegation was a response to an open letter written on Friday by the political wing of the NLC, the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission.

    The letter raised allegations against Abure and the NWC, claiming that they had put forward plans for a national convention in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, on March 27.

    The convention was said to be aimed at re-electing Abure as the sole administrator of the Labour Party, with concerns of secrecy surrounding the event.

    The political wing of the NLC deemed the planned convention illegal and is demanding the immediate resignation of Abure as the party chairman.

    They are also calling for the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.

    However, the LP leadership strongly opposed the directive, alleging that it was driven by Ajaero’s supposed desire to become the next national chairman of the party.

    Reacting in a statement titled ‘Resign as NLC President to Contest LP Chairmanship, Labour Party advises Joe Ajero,’ the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, made it clear that the party’s leadership does not feel obligated to follow the directives of non-party members who are unionists.

    “In view of the soon to be held all-inclusive national convention of the Labour Party, the NLC State Councils and the NLC Political Committees should immediately embark on a statewide mobilisation of workers to join the NLC Political Commission and the Labour Party.

    “The NLC State Council and State Political Committees should work with our civil society allies, students, traders, and professionals to ensure that the picketing and mobilisation are successfully executed,” the Tuesday directive concluded.

  • NLC reacts as FG appeals to SSANU, NASU to call off strike

    NLC reacts as FG appeals to SSANU, NASU to call off strike

    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.