Nigeria’s public universities are bracing for another indefinite shutdown, as non-teaching university staff members begins nationwide strike. The industrial action, which started today, follows an extended period of unmet demands for salary payments and other grievances from members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The unions represent a large portion of university employees responsible for essential operations, including water supply, electricity, internet connectivity, and security on campus, raising concerns about the disruption of daily campus functions.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising SSANU and NASU leaders, announced the strike after the Nigerian government failed to meet a deadline on withheld salaries and other agreed benefits. The unions have been seeking payment of four months’ worth of unpaid salaries, improved wages, and the enforcement of agreements dating back to 2009. The withheld salaries affect non-teaching staff, despite recent government assurances regarding salary payments.
The decision to strike comes after years of dialogue, protests, and temporary strikes by the unions, all of which have failed to yield concrete government action. SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi confirmed in a public statement that the government’s failure to address key demands has left the unions no choice but to shut down campuses indefinitely.
The unions pointed out that this situation traces back to a 2022 standoff between the federal government and the four main university unions, which led to months of halted activities at Nigeria’s higher education institutions. While academic staff eventually received partial payment of withheld salaries, non-teaching staff saw none, prompting widespread frustration. President Bola Tinubu had, in October, directed that half of the withheld salaries for academic staff be released, but this directive excluded non-teaching staff, whom the unions argue are being unfairly overlooked.
In recent months, the unions have issued numerous ultimatums to the government. The last of these was a seven-day notice issued earlier in October, warning of a potential shutdown if payments were not made. This followed other attempts to secure payment and urge compliance with previous agreements, but with little effect.
“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in Federal and State Owned Universities as well as Inter-University Centres,” it read.
“The last circular of the Joint Action Committee of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities titled, “Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months’ Salaries” referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/32 dated 21st October 2024 refers.
“The circular under reference gave seven days to the Federal Government to do the needful in respect of our demands for payment of outstanding four months’ salaries and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sighed with the Federal Government on 20th August, 2022 which expires midnight of Sunday, 27th October, 2024.”
“It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums thereafter with no positive result from the government, it is therefore obvious that Government is not positively disposed to our rightful and legitimate demands in spite of several interactions, dialogues, exchange of correspondences and assurances of payment all to no avail.
“We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response to our demands by the Government,” the statement, “This is to direct all our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres throughout the country to hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 28th October, 2024 and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise.”
“Our members are in charge of water supply, electricity, communication, internet supply, security, finance, if they pay this money tomorrow (today), we will call off the strike,” SSANU boss Ibrahim told The PUNCH.
