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Tag: Strike

  • JUST IN: NASU, SSANU suspend strike for one month

    JUST IN: NASU, SSANU suspend strike for one month

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non teaching staff unions in tertiary institutions, says it has suspended its ongoing strike for one month, effective from November 5.

    JAC comprises of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

    Mr Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU said this in a statement jointly signed by Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU on Sunday in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that JAC  had directed it members to embark on an indefinite strike on Oct. 28, to  demand for non- payment of four months salaries and non- implementation of other demands.

    It said the decision to suspend the ongoing strike for a month was due to exhaustive deliberations held with the Federal Government.

    According to him, these high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two out of the four months salaries would be paid in staggered forms.

    He said that a payment of the agreement had been made in October 2024, adding that the second month would be paid by the end of November.

    ”Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new Minister of Education and the leadership of the Department of State Services.

    “The leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing  strike be suspended for one month effective Tuesday, Nov. 5,  2024.

    “Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses.

    “We wish to reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N5O billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations,” it said.

  • UNILORIN clinical lecturers embark on indefinite strike

    UNILORIN clinical lecturers embark on indefinite strike

    The University of Ilorin clinical lecturers have embarked on an indefinite strike to prevail on the Management to pay their salaries, using the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

    Clinical lecturers are members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) of the university.

    They announced the commencement of the action in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary, MDCAN, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof. Olatunde Ibrahim, and Dr Nurudeen Abdulraheem, respectively, and made available to newsmen on Tueaday.

    The other signatories were the Chairman and Secretary, NAMDA, Prof. Mohammad Abdulkadir and Dr Ganiyu Oloko, respectively.

    They explained that the strike was a total withdrawal of service, including clinical academic activities, class and bedside teachings, practicals, examination and accreditation, official meetings, and any other activities in the university.

    “The strike will continue until our members are migrated and paid, using CONMESS as enshrined in relevant government circulars and implemented by most federal universities, with the arrears from July 2023,” the statement added.

    The lecturers recalled that the associations issued a statement, on October 7, notifying the public about the strike. They also stated that a 21-day notice was issued to the university management.

    “The matter at hand relates to the failure of the university to appropriately remunerate clinical lecturers as medical doctors, using the CONMESS.

    “At present, all clinical lecturers in Federal Goventment-owned conventional universities with medical schools are paying CONMESS.

    “This is with the exception of the University of Ilorin and universities in the Southwestern region of the country, including the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University.

    “This has resulted in a situation where clinical lecturers at the University of Ilorin earn about half of what their colleagues in other federal universities earn.

    “Indeed, this discrepancy in salary has been on for more than five years, when compared to other universities,” they said.

    They also noted that the associations had explored all efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the issue, without success.

    According to them, the University of Ilorin’s administration failed to accede to their demands and communicate the same to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System of the Office of the Accountset-General of the Federation.

    They argued that the “discriminately, inadequate pay was a major contributor to clinical lecturers migrating from the university to other states and outside the shores of Nigeria”.

    The groups stated that the strike was limited to their role as clinical lecturers in the university, and did not affect their clinical duties at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

  • NASU, SSANU declare indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries

    NASU, SSANU declare indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries

    The Joint Action Committee(JAC) of non-teaching staff unions in the universities, has directed its members to proceed on a nationwide indefinite strike on Monday.

    It said this followed the non payment of the four months withheld salaries of its members.

    The JAC comprises the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU.

    This was contained in a circular addressed to all branch chairmen in the universities and inter-university centres.

    The circular was jointly signed by Mr Peters Adeyemi, General-Secretary of NASU and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President, of SSANU, was issued in Abuja on unday.

    The circular was entitled, “Latest development in respect of the withheld four months salaries”.

    It said JAC regretted that in spite of President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the 50 per cent of the four months withheld salaries to be paid none of its members had received any payment.

    “It is on record that JAC of NASU and SSANU has issued multiple notices to the government to redress this ugly situation. However, the sincerity of government to our cause is in doubt.

    “In view of this, the leadership of JAC has decided that the effective date for the strike be moved to mid-night of Sunday, 27th October 2024.

    “This is to allow the Branch Officers of NASU to be on ground before commencing the strike.

    “We have to do this strategic change in timing for effective co-ordination and for both unions to be on same page.

    “We express our deepest appreciation for your steadfast commitment to the leadership and we affirm our determination to persist in this struggle until ultimate victory is secured,”‘ it said.

  • Health workers declare 7 days nationwide warning strike

    Health workers declare 7 days nationwide warning strike

    Health workers under the auspices Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have declared seven days nationwide warning strike commencing from midnight of Oct. 25.

    The National President, JOHESU, Kabiru Minjibir, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the end of the unions’ expanded National Executive Council (NEC) hybrid meeting in Abuja on Friday.

    Minjibir regretted that, thus far, the unions were yet to get any positive response from the federal government on some of the critical issues raised in-spite of repeated assurances during meetings with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “If at the end of the seven days warning strike, the federal government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU have no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.

    “Nigerians should note that, this action would have been avoided if the federal government had, within the window of the 15-day notice of strike or ultimatum, responded by utilising all options available in the relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to apprehend this dispute of right.

    “JOHESU is always committed to the use of the instrumentality of social dialogue to resolve matters affecting the welfare and working conditions of members.

    ”We shall, therefore, keep all our channels of communication open during this period,” he said.

    It would be recalled that the unions had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government on Oct. 10, 2024, to address the issues or risk total shut down of its operations in hospitals nationwide.

    The workers were demanding the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, immediate payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears (June – Dec., 2023), and Immediate payment of nine (9) months’ (Jan – Sept. 2024) salary to workers of Regulatory Agencies.

    Other demands are the immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions.

    They are also demanding the commencement of the process to upward review of retirement age of health workers through Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to the Federal Executive Council.

    Other issues under contention included tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, immediate payment of COVID 19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers.

    They are also demanding immediate suspension of planned establishment and activities of National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA).

    Also, JOHESU is demanding the withdrawal of the unlawful Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as the full implementation of approved entry point, call duty and other allowances for holders of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D).

    Members of JOHESU affiliate Unions are from the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

    Others are Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

  • NAFDAC workers vow to continue strike

    NAFDAC workers vow to continue strike

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), NAFDAC Branch, has vowed to continue its ongoing strike action till their demands are met.

    In an interview on Saturday in Kaduna, the Chairman of the chapter, Adetoboye Ayodeji, said it is left for the agency’s management to call the union for negotiation in order to see actionable evidence that things would be done appropriately.

    Workers of the agency began an indefinite strike on Oct. 7, to demand the review of the 2024 promotion examinations.

    The strike was also to address the allegations that the majority of the staff were not promoted as a result of the purported “vacancy slot” from the Head of Service, even when they all qualified to be promoted.

    Ayodeji also claimed that some statutory arrears and other benefits were not paid to some of the staff employed by the agency in 2022.

    He explained that the union’s had earlier signed an agreement with the government and NAFDAC management in 2022 bordering on the workers condition of service which ought to have been finalised.

    “The issues in the agreement were supposed to be settled in December 2022 but till date, none of the agreement have been complied to.

    “Allowances that are supposed to be approved on or before December 2022 have not been approved, the condition of service could not be approved,”he lamented.

    Ayodeji said the union had written several letters to the NAFDAC management regarding the concerns without adequate response.

    He also alleged that m in 2024, the agency did promotion examinations with many of the staff who passed the examinations not promoted.

    He added that the management’s claim was due to lack of vacancy.

    “Unfortunately the management was recruiting at the same time into the positions that they claim there was no vacancy while those that are rising through the ranks are not promoted, outsiders are brought to occupy the positions,” he alleged.

    Ayodeji wondered why not up to 220 staff were promoted in the examinations that were written by over 700 staff.

    “Only 36 per cent of participants in the examinations were promoted, we therefore said no, it is never possible.

    “They cannot promote less than 80 per cent of the participants. We rejected the entire promotion exercise and asked that more staff be promoted. There can never be motivation in an agency where 36 per cent of staff are only promoted.

    “It will have a devastating effect on the staff morale thereby affecting the health of the 200 million Nigerians,”he said.

    Speaking further, the chairman said part of the reason for their strike action was an issue of allowances in the staff salaries that was lingering for over 20 years.

    Ayodeji said the union had written to the NAFDAC management but no reason or explanation was given and even issued a two-weeks note before the strike but no response.

    Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC’s Director-General, in a statement issued to NAN on Monday, denied all the claims.

    She claimed that the agency had been following the rules on payment of arrears and estacode, and reiterated its commitment to promoting the workers’ welfare.

  • Just In: Fresh headache for FG as JOHESU gives 15-day deadline to embark on strike

    Just In: Fresh headache for FG as JOHESU gives 15-day deadline to embark on strike

    Fresh headache for Federal Government as public health care workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address all lingering issues with the union or risks another round of industrial action.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports this was contained in a statement jointly signed by the national chairman and national secretary of the union, noted that the Federal Government has not been able to address their demands since June last year when they suspended their strike, owing to promises from President Bola Tinubu to intervene.

    The statement highlighted the union’s demands to include non-payment of covid-19 hazard allowance to members, the demand for tax waiver on health care workers’ allowances, and call for the immediate suspension of the plans to establish an agency that regulates the activities in national health facilities.

    JOHESU embarked on strike between May 19, 2023 and June 6, 2023 last year, a two-week period that almost crippled health care services in public hospitals. The strike was called off following Tinubu’s promise to intervene.

    Details shortly…

  • Just in: NAFDAC staff union begin indefinite nationwide strike today

    Just in: NAFDAC staff union begin indefinite nationwide strike today

    The Staff of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC began an indefinite nationwide strike today, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to management.

    The decision to down tools was confirmed after a congress of NAFDAC staff convened on Friday, October 4, 2024 over unresolved issues.

    The striking workers, under the directive of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies SSASCGOC, have been instructed to withdraw all services and vacate offices. They were also ordered to remove personal belongings as the strike begins.

    The demands of the staff include a review and re-evaluation of the 2024 promotion examination results, which currently reflect a pass rate of just 35%.

    The union is pushing for a minimum benchmark of 80% for this year and future exams. Another key demand is the settlement of salary arrears for employees hired in 2022 among others

    In a statement signed by Secretary of the Association, Ejor Michael, the union accused NAFDAC management of ignoring their grievances, calling the inaction insufferable.

    The staff have vowed to continue the strike until all demands outlined in their communiqué are met.

    NAFDAC, which plays a critical role in regulating Nigeria’s food, drug, and pharmaceutical industries, is expected to face significant operational disruptions as a result of the industrial action.

    Efforts to obtain a response from NAFDAC management regarding the strike have been unsuccessful at the time of this report.

  • ASUU threatens indefinite strike

    ASUU threatens indefinite strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 aggrement reached with it.

    Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of the union said this during a  news conference on Friday in Jos.

    Namo said that the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) held between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, issued a 21-day ultimatum.

    ”As we speak, government has not honour any of the agreements or address our concerns. At the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we again issued another 14-day ultimatum that commenced from Sept. 23.

    ”So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decide to down tools and shut down public universities,”he said.

    Namo highlighted the lingering issues to include, non conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non release of the three-and-half month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointment and outstanding third-party deductions

    Others lingering issues he said were, poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, none payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 budget, proliferation of universities, non implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, among others.

  • ASUU vows to embark on another strike, gives FG 2 weeks ultimatum

    ASUU vows to embark on another strike, gives FG 2 weeks ultimatum

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a 14-day strike deadline to the Federal Government to resolve some lingering issues dating as far back as 2009.

    ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the body is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

    It also demanded the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action, and expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics.

    It stated that these actions were generating a crisis in the public university system.

    “In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.

    “The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” ASUU said

    ASUU is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.

    It added that it wants funding for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.

    Other issues include the proliferation of universities by Federal and State Governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegalG dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.

  • Telecoms workers threaten strike

    Telecoms workers threaten strike

    Telecommunication workers have issued a seven-day indefinite strike notice, effective Sept. 9, to 39 companies including Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd. over what they describe as prevalent precarious working conditions.

    The workers under the aegis of Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) gave the notice in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Okonu Abdullahi, on Tuesday.

    Other companies, it issued notice to, are Tylium Nigeria Ltd; Specific Tool and Techniques; Safari Group Ltd. among others.

    Abdullahi said that the strike had become necessary following alleged anti-labour practices including the refusal of the employers to recognise and respect the workers’ constitutional rights to freely associate with the union. He alleged also that three members of the union were unjustly sacked.

    “We shall not be suspending the planned indefinite strike action until our demands, which are as follows, are met: Immediate reinstatement of the three unjustly sacked workers: Sotola Sunday Kolawole, Ulu Ikechukwu Christopher and Alex Franklin C. Immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the union, “ he said.

    According to the general secretary, other demands include immediate recognition of the union as the negotiating body for the employees on workers welfare. He said also that the union was demanding the immediate remittance of membership dues into its account as earlier provided among others.

    “We hope that these companies will utilise the seven-day window of this notice to meet our demands and avert the indefinite strike action,” Abdullahi said.