The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have announced suspension of the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike over withheld salaries for one month.
The unions in a joint statement on Sunday said the suspension of the indefinite strike will take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
The statement was signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU.
This was as the Federal Government released funds for payment of withheld salaries of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities (NASU).
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The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) made this known in a statement in Abuja.
According to the OAGF, the FG has also released funds for the payment of benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS)
The OAGF said payments to the Non-Academic Staff of Federal Universities had commenced and many have confirmed receipt.
The strike commenced on the Monday, 28th October, 2024 as a result of what the unions called “government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands.”
The statement reads, “The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action.
“You will recall that the ongoing strike action foisted on us commenced on the Monday, 28th October, 2024 as a result of Government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands
“During this industrial struggle, we have had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services
“These high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that the 2 months of the 4 months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form. One month by the end of October, 2024 (which has largely been done), then the second month to be paid by the end of November, 2024.
“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these development and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining 2 months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.
“Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation in this regard; we appreciate your total commitment and resoluteness during this struggle.”
Recall that some of the issues that led to the industrial action include problems of inconsistencies in payment with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of earned allowances, and non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage and consequential adjustment, among others.
