The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have warned that they will go on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government does not pay their outstanding salaries within three weeks.
This warning came in a joint statement by SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi. The unions said they had already given the government a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, but their demands were not met.
They are now giving a final three weeks ultimatum starting September 17, 2024. If the government fails to act, universities across the country and inter-university centres may be shut down indefinitely, the statement said.
Among their demands are the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, better wages, earned allowances, and the full implementation of an agreement made in 2009. The unions accused the government of neglecting these issues despite multiple ultimatums and previous discussions.
The government had earlier implemented a “No Work, No Pay” policy after a prolonged strike by university-based unions in 2022. However, President Bola Tinubu, after a meeting with labour leaders, approved the release of the unpaid salaries in July 2024. Despite this, the unions said no payments have been made, leading to their renewed threat of strike action.
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