“Federal Government Commits to Continued Engagement with NASU and SSANU Amid Strike Threat”
The Federal Government reiterated on Wednesday its commitment to engage with the two university-based unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). This engagement comes in response to their planned seven-day warning strike starting on Monday, March 18, to address their legitimate entitlements.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed this engagement while responding to questions regarding the strike notice during an interaction with Vanguard. Although the strike notice was not discussed during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister assured that the government is actively addressing the issue.
When asked about the exclusion of SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) from President Bola Tinubu’s directive to pay salaries withheld during the “No work, no pay” policy in 2022, Idris emphasized that the government will continue dialogue to resolve the matter. He emphasized the government’s respect for all workers in Nigeria, stating, “Government will continue to engage them, they are all Nigerians. They are all working within Nigeria. Nigerian government has respect for every worker in Nigeria and we will continue to engage them.”
Addressing the comparison with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who received payments, Idris noted that the government will take necessary steps to ensure everyone receives their rightful dues.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU had previously stated in their resolution that the warning strike on March 18 would precede an indefinite strike if their demands were not met. This looming strike threatens to disrupt activities in public universities if unresolved.
