Non-teaching staff unions in universities have directed all branches and members to comply with the proposed strike that commences Monday, declaring that it would be total and comprehensive.
The two unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, said that within the period, there would be no form of concession or internal arrangement with management.
A circular, entitled, “Directive on five day national strike”,signed by the President of SSANU and Chairman of Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the unions, Comrade Samson Ugwoke and the General Secretary of NASU, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, said any member or branch that defaulted would be sanctioned
The statement read: “Following the expiration of the 14 day ultimatum given to the federal government and its failure to show firm commitment towards resolving the following issues, payment of Earned Allowances, University Staff Schools matter, (and) Renegotiation of 2009 Agreements, you are, hereby, directed to embark on a five-day strike effective from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, 2019.
“Be informed that the strike is total and comprehensive for the five days. No form of concession or internal arrangement should be made with managements, while all members must be directed to stay away from their duty posts.
“Kindly recall the decision of the National Executive Council of the two unions to the effect that branches that default in compliance should be sanctioned.
“The national leadership shall not hesitate in this regard. You are, hereby, directed to fully mobilize your members and ensure full compliance.”
Recall that the unions had penultimate week issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government address the issue of Earned Allowances, sacked workers of staff schools or they will shutdown the universities. This was the unions had on August 6, resumed nationwide protest in all the universities.
The two unions in a circular to all the branches after the JAC meeting penultimate Thursday, in Abuja, said if the federal government failed to address all their grievances at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, they would be left with no other option than withdrawing their services and shutting down the universities.
In the circular to all their branches, entitled “Notice of Industrial Action”, which was signed by the Chairman of JAC and President of SSANU, Comrade Ugwoke and the General Secretary of NASU, Comrade Adeyemi, the two unions lamented the non-challant attitude of the Federal Government towards addressing their grievances and obeying court judgment.
The circular read: “This is to inform you that the Joint Action Committee, JAC of NASU and SSANU met today, Thursday, August 1, 2019, to consider the issues which led to the nationwide protest in our various branches, viz, Payment of Earned Allowances, University Staff Schools matter, Renegotiation of 2009 FGN/Unions Agreement among others.
“After extensive deliberations, JAC further observed that no date has been rescheduled by the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ahmed Lawan, for the meeting with the leadership of JAC national.
“From the foregoing, JAC national has resolved as follows that a 14-day ultimatum of Industrial action be given to the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the pending issues with effect from Monday, August 5, 2019.
”During the period of the ultimatum, all branches are directed to carry out peaceful protest on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 and Thursday, August 15,2019 respectively.
“At the expiration of the 14-days ultimatum, Sunday 18th August 2019, without any positive response from the Federal Government of Nigeria, members shall proceed on a 5-day warning strike in all branches from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, 2019.’
