The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has officially concluded its seven-day warning strike, giving the government more time to address the ongoing issues.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the president of the association, announced the decision during a virtual stakeholders’ forum organized by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) in Lagos on Sunday. The forum, themed "Withheld Salaries vs Labour Crisis," also featured Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of affected university labor unions had instructed members to halt operations on March 18, following the withholding of salaries for four months and the non-fulfillment of agreements made with the Federal Government in 2009.
According to Ibrahim, despite a meeting with government representatives in Abuja where the strike's impact was acknowledged, there were no substantial developments regarding the issues at hand.
He emphasized the vital role played by university staff in various essential services such as providing water, and electricity, and facilitating the mobilization of graduates for NYSC. The strike officially ended at midnight, with plans to reconvene at various branches to assess the outcome and determine the next steps.
Ibrahim issued a stern warning that failure to address the union's concerns would result in further action. The association has granted a window for the government to fulfill its obligations, but failure to do so will prompt "drastic action."
