The Federal Government has scheduled a meeting with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to address the unions’ demands and prevent a potential strike. The meeting, set for Thursday, comes after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum issued by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, demanding payment of their four-month withheld salaries.
The Federal Government had previously invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during a prolonged strike in 2022, but President Bola Tinubu granted amnesty to university workers and directed payment of four months’ withheld salaries. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has received their payment, SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) are still awaiting payment, leading to tensions and threats of strike action.
In an effort to avert the strike, the Minister of Education has called an emergency meeting with SSANU and NASU, while the JAC has scheduled a meeting to review the government’s response and potentially declare an indefinite strike if their demands are not met. The meeting with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment is also set for Thursday, aiming to resolve the issues and prevent disruption in universities.