The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) have called off its three-week industrial action.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions of universities said the strike is with immediate effect.
The unions under the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU had on February 5 commenced an indefinite industrial action over the failure of the Federal Government to resolve issues in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, the sharing formula of the earned academic allowances and non-payment of arrears of the new minimum wage, among others.
SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
PRESS RELEASE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE (JAC) OF NASU AND SSANU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THURSDAY, 25″ FEBRUARY, 2021 Our dear friends from the media You would recall that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU hed embarked on @ national strike which commenced on the midnight of Friday 5″ February. 2021, after a three-day nationwide protest and a 14-day notice of strike to take action on the content of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reached between the Federal Government end the Unions on Tuesday 20th October 2020 The issues in contention are
- Inconsistencies m IPPIS payments
2 Non-payment of arrears of National Minimum Wage
3 Non-payment of Earned Allowances
4 Delay in the renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU 2009 Agreements
5 Non-payment of retirement benefits to oulgone members
6 Teaching staff usurping Headship of Non-teaching Units in clear Violation of Conditions of Service and Establishment procedures
7 Neglect and poor funding of State Universities
8 Non-constructive of Visitation Panel for Universities Following the announcement of the strike action, discussions ensued between the Federal Government, fed by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment. Senator Chris Ngige and the leadership of the two Unions at the meetings held on Tuesday, 2% February, Thursday. 11″ February and Thursday, 25″ February 2021 At the end of the deliberations, understandings were reached with the Government side with specific timelines in line with democratic tenets and practice, we also consulted our various organs at the Branches with a view to getting resolutions on the way forward on the strike action The decisions of members from the various Branches were informed by patriots intentions given the fact that none of the specific issues Over which the strike was embarked upon has been immediately addressed
Consequently, in view of the written commitment so far gotten from the Government via a Memorandum of Action and in line with the majority resolution of our members across the Universities and Inter-University Centres that the strike is suspended while expecting Government to act in good faith on the Memorandum of Action, it is with a great sense of responsibility that we announce the suspension of the industrial action with effect from the midnight of Friday, 26″ February 2021.
We hope that Government shall reciprocate the patriotic and compassionate consideration of the leadership of the two unions and ensure that the agreements are implemented according to the set timelines We cannot afford to have our system set back due to protracted and avoidable Industrial actions and we believe that the ultimate buck to avoid Industrial actions in the university system lie solely on Government. Our decision should never be taken as cowardice or foolishness but in the interest of the students and the system which we hold very dear to our hearts.
Implemented by Government Even though the Government had given promises and assurances to stick to the terms of the Memorandum of Action @8 specified, the actions or inactions of Government in the following days and in line with the timelines. shall however determine their sense of honour and respect for Collective Bargaining Agreements Our resolve. going forward is made in the interest of the hapless Nigerian students and the educational system which has suffered untold damage and deterioration occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Industrial actions mn the last one year Having s prolonged strike by the JAC of NASU and SSANU lasting into months would add more to the already sorry state of the University system
We thank our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres for thew resilience and commitment. We equally thank members of the press and other stakeholders for their interest in the plight of the Non-Teaching Unions of NASU and SSANU in the university system We implore you to continue to use your good offices to prevail on government to respect the terms of the Memorandum of Action in order to avoid another industrial action being a fallout of the failure of implementation of the MoA.
