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Tag: Strike

  • ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement or face a nationwide industrial action.

    ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, issued this warning during a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

    He stressed the importance of the government fulfilling its promises and addressing the worsening conditions in Nigerian universities.

    According to Piwuna, nine critical issues remain unresolved, including the stalled renegotiation process since 2017.

    He mentioned withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and unpaid entitlements linked to the contentious Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    Piwuna also criticised the delayed release of revitalisation funds and earned academic allowances due to government inaction.

    In spite of promises to inject ₦150 billion into universities and adjust irregular allowances by 2026, he said these commitments remain unfulfilled.

    He highlighted the marginalisation of ASUU members at state institutions such as Kogi State University and Lagos State University.

    According to him, victimisation, salary denial, and job insecurity persist in those universities, undermining staff morale.

    On university autonomy, he said political interference has compromised the selection of leaders, citing Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abuja universities as examples.

    Piwuna warned that universities are becoming battlegrounds for political and economic interests, which he described as unacceptable.

    He called for a national rebirth through education, saying it is vital for Nigeria’s transformation and prosperity.

    To address the crisis, he proposed a national education summit focusing on funding, autonomy, and academic welfare.

    “Education empowers citizens, drives innovation, and instils values. Without it, development is impossible,” Piwuna said.

    He reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to reforming Nigerian universities and urged patriotic Nigerians and global allies to support their struggle.

    “Our universities should be centres for solutions to national challenges.

    “We are open to dialogue but will not tolerate further erosion of our rights,” Piwuna said.

  • Abia teachers set for strike over unmet demands

    Abia teachers set for strike over unmet demands

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abia wing, has threatened to embark on a strike action on Thursday over alleged non-implementation of its demands by the state government.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the union’s Chairman, Mr Friday Madu and Secretary, Mrs Nnenna Okonkwo and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Umuahia.

    The union leaders said they have directed their members in public primary and secondary schools to proceed with strike action on Thursday.

    Madu said that the seven days notice served the government to that effect would expire on Wednesday.

    He alleged that the government had failed to address and implement its demands despite a 14 days ultimatum with a communique submitted to all concerned on March 28.

    He said that March salary payment was devoid of both minimum wage and Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).

    The union chairman noted that other unions with special salaries like the Medical and Health Workers Union, and the judiciary were paid with Special Salary Structure in March.

    He said that the teachers were still being retired by the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, despite Gov. Alex Otti’s approval of 65 years and 40 years elongation of services.

    “Promotions are released haphazardly without coordination, among others, which are explicit in our communiqué of March 5.

    “Non -payment of arrears of teachers in Basic Schools is part of the problem.

    “As our colleagues in Secondary Education Management Board have started receiving part of their arrears, it will be justifiable if Basic Schools Teachers are also considered,” their demands read in part.

  • KASU prepares for ASUU strike

    KASU prepares for ASUU strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Kaduna State University (KASU) branch is on the verge of another industrial action due to some unresolved issues with the state government.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Peter Adamu, the Chairman , ASUU KASU branch and issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Recall that the union had embarked on an indefinite strike on Feb. 18, 2025 over some outstanding issues, but called it off after six days.

    Adamu alleged that the Kaduna State Government had cancelled two scheduled meetings with ASUU, which raised concerns about its commitment to resolving the issues.

    He listed the outstanding issues to include; withheld salaries for May to September 2022, outstanding SIWES supervision allowances, earned academic allowance, promotion arrears and pension remittance.

    Others, he said, included; group life assurance/death benefits, wage award and consequential adjustment salaries and financial autonomy.

    He believed that the government had returned to default settings, leaving ASUU with no choice but to consider resuming the strike.

    According to him, the agreements reached by both parties were flexible, but the government’s lack of commitment is eroding trust.

    The chairman appealed to the governor and the stakeholders to intervene and avert a needless industrial action that could further plunge the university into comatose.

    He also called for a swift intervention to address the lecturers’ grievances and ensure academic stability.

  • KASU-ASUU begins indefinite strike

    KASU-ASUU begins indefinite strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) Branch, has declared indefinite strike beginning from Feb. 18, over unresolved welfare concerns.

    The union announced the decision in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Peter Adamu and Secretary, Dr Peter Waziri, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    The statement said that the action followed the approval of the union’s National Executive Council.

    “The Academic Staff Union of Universities, KASU branch wishes to notify the public that its National Executive Council has approved the request of the congress of the branch to proceed on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike with effect from today,  Feb.18, 2025.

    “Congress unanimously and vehemently rejected the promises from the government of Kaduna State for lack of substance, specific details and actionable timelines on the payment of the outstanding entitlements to members,” the statement said.

    The union identified one of the unresolved welfare issues as non-payment of all withheld salaries, which included 60 per cent in September 2017 and May to September 2022.

    Other issues, it said, were non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances from 2016 till date,  payment of promotion arrears and Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme supervision allowances.

    Also unresolved were Group Life Assurance and other entitlements to deceased members, non-remittance of pension from 2009 to 2019, and implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award.

    Another grey area, according to the union, is the restoration of the university autonomy.

  • UCH resident doctors suspend indefinite strike action

    UCH resident doctors suspend indefinite strike action

    The resident doctors at University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan on Tuesday suspended the strike they embarked upon a day earlier.

    Dr Uthman Adedeji, the General Secretary of UCH’s Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), disclosed this in an interview with NAN.

    Recall that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had reconnected the UCH on Wednesday after some intervention following power outage of over 100 days.

    However, some parts of the College’s residential quarters were not reconnected.

    The resident doctors then embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday insisting that all parts of the residential quarters must be reconnected.

    Adedeji said that power had now been restored to all parts of the residential areas, leading to the association suspending the industrial action.

    “Arising from the Emergency General Meeting (EGM) we just ended this Tuesday night, we now sat that the total and indefinite strike embarked upon at 4:01 p.m on Monday has been suspended.

    “Work will resumes by 8 a.m on Wednesday and all members are to resume at their duty posts at this time,” he said.

  • Wike vows to end FCT teachers, council workers’ strike

    Wike vows to end FCT teachers, council workers’ strike

    Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has promised quick resolution of the indefinite strike declared by primary school teachers in the territory.

    The strike, which included area council workers was declared on Thursday, over non-implementation of N70,000 minimum wage and other pending welfare issues.

    Wike made the promise while interacting with journalists after inspection of some ongoing projects in the city on Thursday.

    The minister, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, said he had directed the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, to meet with the teachers to resolve the issue.

    “I had a meeting with security agencies and area councils’ chairmen along with the FCT minister of state over security issues.

    “There again, the issue of primary school teachers’ strike came up and I directed the minister of state to invite the teachers and see what we can do.

    “We will do everything we can to make sure that the teachers return to the class by ensuring that the area councils implement the minimum wage as approved by the national assembly.

    “I believe in a very short time we will sort it out,” he said.

    The teachers, along with local government employees, have commenced indefinite strike on Thursday.

    The action followed the directive of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing and the National Union of Local Government Employees of Nigeria (NULGE), FCT Chapter.

    The unions announced the decision in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, signed by the NUT-FCT Wing Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa and the President of NULGE, FCT Chapter, Ibrahim Kabi.

    The workers explained that they suspended the earlier strike on Dec. 12, 2024, on the agreement that the area council chairmen would begin implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in January 2025.

    They claimed that the council chairmen fail to pay the minimum wage, including non-response to other outstanding demands of the workers.

    They identified the pending issues as 40 per cent peculiar allowance, 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase and N35,000 wage award amongst others.

    “The NUT-FCT Wing and NULGE, FCT Chapter, therefore, wish to alert the public that all civil servants in FCT have been paid the N70,000 minimum wage except primary school teachers and area council workers.

    “Therefore, the joint unions of NUT and NULGE FCT have unanimously resolved and directed all workers in the six Area councils, including primary school teachers to, with effect from Feb. 13, resume the suspended strike.

    “The action is indefinite until our demands are met,” the statement said.

  • ASUU to begin indefinite strike over welfare issues

    ASUU to begin indefinite strike over welfare issues

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) Branch, has announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike starting February 11 due to unresolved welfare concerns.

    The union made the announcement in a letter signed by its Chairman, Dr Peter Adamu, and Secretary, Dr Peter Waziri, which was addressed to the national body seeking approval for the action.

    The letter, which was obtained in Abuja on Tuesday, highlighted the union’s decision to strike as a result of the non-response from the Kaduna State Government regarding their grievances.

    The key issues raised by the union include the non-payment of five months’ salaries from May to September 2022, 60 per cent of salaries for September 2017, and other withheld payments for academic staff.

    Additionally, there are unresolved concerns over the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance from 2015 to 2020, and Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances from 2016 to 2023.

    The union also pointed to issues such as the remittance of pension funds from 2009 to 2019 and promotion arrears from 2019 to 2023.

    Additionally, there has been a failure to pay Group Life Insurance benefits for deceased academic staff from 2020 to the present.

    The lecturers recalled that they had met with Gov. Uba Sani on Aug. 17, 2024, to discuss these matters, and the governor had promised to pay the outstanding entitlements.

    Following this meeting, the union sent a letter dated Aug. 20, 2024, through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Mohammed Bello, reminding the governor of the promise to pay the arrears in installments.

    In an effort to resolve the issue, the union followed up with another appeal on Oct. 28, 2024, urging for a swift resolution of the welfare concerns.

    On Dec. 17, 2024, the governor held another meeting with the management and unions of tertiary institutions, where he announced that payment modalities would begin within three weeks.

    However, the union stated in a letter dated Jan. 17, 2025, that in spite of the governor’s assurances, no information regarding the payment modalities had been received by the union, three weeks after the promised timeframe.

    “We are writing to remind you that today, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, marks 3 weeks since the meeting was held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.

    “We are yet to receive any information on the payment modalities as promised by His Excellency,” the letter read.

    With no response from the government, the union expressed that it had no option but to proceed with the indefinite strike, in a bid to press for the resolution of these outstanding issues.

    NAN

  • Ondo nurses suspend 4-day-old indefinite strike

    Ondo nurses suspend 4-day-old indefinite strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Ondo State Council, has suspended its four-day-old indefinite strike.

    Recall that nurses and midwives in the state government-owned hospitals and health centres began an indefinite strike on Jan. 31.

    Mr Lucky Aremu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, made this known in a statement on Monday in Akure.

    “The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), hereby, announces the suspension of the indefinite industrial action embarked upon by nurses across all state public health institutions.

    “This decision follows a series of negotiations with the Ondo State Government, which culminated in assurances and commitments to address our demands.

    “These demands includes proper remuneration, welfare, conversion issues and improved working conditions.

    “In light of these developments, and in the spirit of goodwill, we have decided to give the government the benefit of the doubt to fulfil its promises,” he said.

    Aremu appreciated the unwavering support, resilience and solidarity demonstrated by association’s members.

    He added that their dedication had been instrumental in amplifying the association’s collective voice.

    Aremu extended the gratitude to members of the public for their understanding, patience and involvement while the strike lasted.

    He asked all nurses and midwives in the government owned health facilities to resume at their official posts on Tuesday.

    “While we suspend the strike, we remain vigilant and committed to ensuring that the government honours its commitments.

    “We will not hesitate to take necessary actions should there be any breach of the trust,” he said.

    NAN

  • Edo doctors begin warning strike over unimplemented Okpebholo’s directive

    Edo doctors begin warning strike over unimplemented Okpebholo’s directive

    Medical doctors under the employ of the Edo Health Management Agency (HMA), on Thursday, commenced a 2-day warning strike to protest against the appointment of a new Executive Secretary for the agency.

    According to reports, the doctors operating under the aegis of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Edo HMA branch, were kicking against the appointment of Nelson Tenebe, who is said to be related to a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

    In a notification letter sent to Gov. Monday Okpebholo, a copy of which was obtained by NAN, the association stated the decision was taken after an emergency general meeting on January 29.

    The letter was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the association, Dr Clement Ikponmwen and Dr Osaronse Aghimien.

    “Following the expiration of the ultimatum issued on January 7, and the subsequent meetings we had with you sir, we want to appreciate Your Excellency’s kind approval of Dr Christopher Eigbe Ehiagwina as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of the HMA during the last meeting we had with you on January 22.

    “Unfortunately sir, your directive has not been effected up untill now, as though your instructions are being undermined.

    “This has led to great disenchantment among members after initially being told that you had given the instruction for the name to be announced and appointment given effect.

    “Arising from an emergency general meeting held on January 29, the association declared a two-day warning strike to begin 12 midnight today (Thursday), if the announcement and appointment were not given effect to as directed by Your Excellency a week ago,” the letter added.

    Meanwhile, the warning strike has begun to take a toll on healthcare services across the state, with public hospitals scaling down operations.

    Non-emergency cases were being turned back, leaving patients and their families frustrated by the disruptions.

    Many are said to have resorted to alternative medicine and private hospitals.

  • FCT doctors suspend warning strike

    FCT doctors suspend warning strike

    The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has suspended its three-day warning strike after the intervention of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesome Wike.

    The President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, in a statement on Friday night said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the minister had met their demands.

    NAN recalled that ARD-FCT had on Wednesday, Jan. 22, commenced a three-day warning strike to press home some demands from the FCTA.

    The strike grounded most the government hospitals in the FCT, as the doctors claimed that some of them employed in 2023 were yet to received some arrears, allowances, and other benefits.

    The doctors also listed the deplorable conditions of some the hospitals in the FCT, manpower shortage among other demands.

    However, Ebong in the statement revealed that its members have started receiving the alerts of unpaid six-month salary arrears.

    The ARD-FCT President said that the Minister had approved, as well as ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance owed members.

    He said that the Minister had also given approval for medical residency bonding training to 2 years; approval of immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers.

    Ebong said that the Minister had also given approval for payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were being owed, noting that “with the intervention of the Minister, doctors are expected to resume work with immediate effect.”

    He added that the intervention had also put an end to the impending indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja, while urging the Minister to brace-up and meet other demands to avert future strike action.

    “On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of ARD-FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Minister for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning strike.

    “We also humbly plead with the Minister to put a mechanism in place to avoid a repeat of this anomaly. We are hopeful that other demands will be attended to in due time,” Ebong said.

    The ARD-FCTA President expressed the association’s believes in the capacity of the Minister to turn the FCT health sector around as a stakeholder in the renew hope agenda.

    Ebong also used the opportunity to invite the Minister to all the district hospitals in the FCT, while assuring him of doctors continued support in the realisation of the administration’s renew hope agenda.