ABU’s SSANU pulls out of nationwide strike

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has pulled out of the nationwide strike.

The union’s Chairman, Ilyas Abdulrauf Bello, said the decision became necessary because the strike had lost direction and focus.

After its congress at the SANNU secretariat at the university yesterday, it directed its members to resume work immediately.

The workers had joined in the nationwide strike, which started since December 2017.

According to Bello: “The union embarked on the strike on December 4, 2017. This is the fourth month and up till now, the strike has lost direction, it has lost focus.

“The government is not inviting the union, and most universities are in session and academic activities in progress. So, we felt that the best that we could do is to call on our members to resume work immediately.”

The chairman said the members unanimously adopted the decision to back out and resume work.

Bello also lamented that, to continue the strike where academic activities are going on smoothly, and the striking workers getting their salaries regularly, was meaningless.

Meanwhile, the President of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) chapter Dr Bayo Owolabi has criticised on going strike action of the local Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

Owolabi said in Ilorin that the strike is ‘ill timed’ and remained “an uncalled for action”, which could sabotage the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari led government in improving the Nigerian health sector.

He therefore urged the striking workers to suspend the strike and promptly return to work in the overall interests of the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford treatment at private healthcare institutions.

He said: “I learnt about their planned industrial action last Wednesday. We had our exco meeting yesterday, resolved that their action is not necessary, and uncalled for, immature and ill informed. We learnt about their planned rally and we resolved to support and stay with our amiable, visionary and focused Chief Medical Director (CMD) Professor Abdulwaheed Olatinwo.”

In a letter addressed to the CMD and dated February 26, 2018 by the amalgamated unions, they gave a notice of a seven-day warning strike over pending promotions of their members and alleged apathy of the management to the payment of certain allowances to them.

Their six points demand include; 2009 /2011 Promotion Arrears, Skipping Arrears, the need to release 2017 Promotion Letter, three years arrears of uniform allowances nurses, Upward Review of Overtime Allowances, and Payment of Payment of Teaching Allowances (non-clinical).