The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to settle unpaid salaries.
According to a letter addressed to the Minister of Education Tahir Mamman, the Joint Action Committee of the unions accused the Federal Government of insincerity and threatened to shut down universities if the withheld four months’ salaries owed to their members were unpaid.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries to our members not later than two (2) weeks from the date of this correspondence; failing which we will be left with no option but to shut down the Universities and Inter-University Centres,” part of the letter signed by the NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim read.
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‘Insincerity and Neglect’
They expressed “regrets and dismay that up to date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members,” saying the development ” builds distrust”.
“We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of the government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members,” the unions said.
“This also negates the spirit of collective bargaining and builds distrust. The deafening silence of the government and failure to pay the withheld salaries is creating a high level of agitations and contentions among our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres such that we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on University campuses.”
The most recent threat is coming months after SSANU and NASU shut campuses across the nation, cutting off power supply and administrative services. The strike lasted for one week – from March 11 to 18.
