NASU, SSANU issue 14-Day strike notice over earned allowances

The Non-academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have given a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to pay their earned allowances and resolve the fate of others in universities’ staff schools or face industrial crisis.

The unions have subsequently directed all their branches to resume nationwide protest in all the universities from Tuesday, August 6.

In a circular to all the branches after the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on Thursday, in Abuja, the unions vowed that if the federal government failed to address all their grievances at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, they would be left with no other option than to withdraw their services and shut down the universities in the process.

In the circular, which was entitled, ‘Notice of Industrial Action,’ and signed by the Chairman of JAC and President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, the two unions lamented the non-challant attitude of the federal government towards addressing their grievances and obey court judgment.

The circular read in part: “This is to inform you that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU met today, Thursday, August 1, 2019, to consider the issues, which led to the nationwide protest in our various branches, viz, payment of earned allowances, university staff schools matter, renegotiation of 2009 FGN/Unions agreement, among others.

“After extensive deliberations, JAC further observed that no date has been rescheduled by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, for the meeting with the leadership of JAC national. The meeting earlier scheduled by the Federal Ministry of Education with the leadership of JAC national has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 7, with no reason(s) stated.”

“That a 14-day ultimatum of industrial action is given to the federal government to address the pending issues with effect from Monday, August 5. During the period of the ultimatum, all branches are hereby directed to carry out peaceful protest on Tuesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 15, respectively.

“At the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum on Sunday, August 18 without any positive response from the federal government, members shall proceed on a five-day warning strike in all branches from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, inclusive.

“You are, therefore, directed to properly mobilise our members for this action. All defaulting branches shall be sanctioned accordingly,” the circular added.