The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have directed their members across the country to mobilise for a nationwide protest tomorrow.
 
This follows the recent breakdown of dialogue between the Ministers of Education and Labour, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two bodies.
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In a circular directed to all branch chairmen of the two unions and made available to the media in Abuja yesterday, the unions said the protest will commence on July 9 across the state chapters of the federation, and a national protest in Abuja on July 18. The circular was jointly signed by the General Secretary of NASU and National President of SSANU, Peters Adeyemi, and Mohammed H. Ibrahim, respectively.
   
It read: “The national body of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, July 4, to appraise and take a position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in university and inter-university centres.”

“Similarly, the National JAC on invitation met with the Minister of Education; Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC). Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister has not shown any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.
   
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment and as usual, the Minister of State was not on seat to receive us. The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.
   
“In view of this disappointment and failure of government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions: A one day protest to be held on Tuesday at each branch simultaneously and a national protest in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence.”