The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has hinted at plans to down tools following the federal government’s poor handling of the 2009 agreement reached with university workers.

Speaking at the opening of the SSANU leadership training held at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun (TASUED), Ogun State, the National President of the association, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the government of being insincere with the union.

He warned that the strike would be total, indefinite and absolute if the government fails to address their demands.

“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes,’ it will be the grandfather of all strikes, because when SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands,” Ibrahim said.

The SSANU chief lamented the conditions of service of university workers, saying they are the worst hit financially, economically and psychologically.

“What we have as our absolute minimum benchmark is that workers and members of SSANU must be paid handsomely. University workers are the worst paid, that is why we will continue to demand improved pay and other allowances.”

Ibrahim used the occasion to canvass for the federal government’s support for universities of education, particularly TASUED.

He said, “Education, as a vocation, requires training; imparting knowledge is not something that everybody does without getting the requisite training.

“This is a specialised university, and the government must give special attention to our universities of education. This is my position, because I’m a product of a teacher’s college; therefore, I know what it takes to be a teacher. So, I’m canvassing for support for this university from the federal government.”

He commended the management of TASUED for the serenity of the environment that is conducive to learning and research.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwole Banjo, commended the branch executives and members of SSANU for the harmonious relationship between the union and the university management.

Banjo noted that TASUED has an enviable record of the most peaceful staff unions among its peers.
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e announced that there are still outstanding packages to enhance staff development, which is being fine-tuned for the governing council’s consideration and approval for implementation.

The branch chairman, Kehinde Adebayo, appealed for a career structure review, saying the one currently in use is long overdue for review to reflect the current realities as obtained in other universities.

Adebayo also appealed for the payment of outstanding salary arrears to members.