Unions will protest on Tuesday in a number of branches. According to Viztadaily, the organize that the Federal Government called through the Ministry of Education and NASU, SSANU, to discuss the threat posed by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) ended in impasse.
As a result, the two unions at universities that are part of the Joint Action Committee, or JAC, have instructed their members to organize and stage a protest on Tuesday in their respective branches against what they perceive to be the federal government’s insensitivity to their concerns.
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Remember that the government was given a two-week ultimatum by the JAC, which is made up of SSANU and NASU, to pay them the salary that President Bola Tinubu had approved for the four unions headquartered in universities but had delayed for four months.
The four unions, which included the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
went on an extended strike in 2022, forcing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to implement the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy.
ASUU received payment in October of last year, putting the other three unions behind, following President Tinubu’s amnesty for university workers who paid four months’ worth of withheld salaries. This development has caused friction and animosity among the universities.
In order to prevent the strike, the federal government called a conference with the two unions on July 4th, through the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman.
The two-week deadline had expired on July 4th.
Vanguard obtained with confidence that the gathering accomplished nothing as the Minister had simply pledged to refer their case to a higher authority—possibly Mr. President.
Outraged by the turn of events, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two unions has ordered all branches to have a meeting on Monday to discuss sensitive members for a one-day demonstration on Tuesday in all branches.
This will be followed by a nationwide protest on July 18 in Abuja, and finally, a full-fledged walkout.
A circular signed by Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU, and Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU,
addressed to all branch chairmen of universities and interuniversity centers regarding the conclusions of their meeting with the Ministers of Education, Labor, and Employment,
JAC stated that the government has not demonstrated a strong commitment to paying the four months’ worth of earnings that were withheld.
The directive to all NASU and SSANU branches, titled ‘Outcome of the meetings held with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour and Employment:
Directive’ encouraged the branches to fully engage in the planned protests.
The text stated as follows: ‘On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU held a national meeting to assess and decide on the current state of affairs regarding the withheld salaries of four months and other grievances of our members in University and Inter-University Centers.
Likewise, the Honorable Minister of Education, the Honorable Minister of State for Education, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education were also invited to meet with the National JAC. other senior representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Ministry.
‘Unfortunately, the Minister of Education has not demonstrated a convincing willingness to pay the withheld salary or to resolve the other outstanding claims of the Joint Arbitration Committee (JAC) of the two unions.
The fact that the Honorable Minister of State was not in her seat to greet us, as usual, since we were told she had an urgent call from the residence,
is equally depressing. ‘The JAC was present at the Federal Ministry of Labor as well.’ & Employment.
”On the matters brought up, the Permanent Secretary who filled in for her was unable to commit.
Given this disappointment and the government’s unwillingness to listen to NASU and SSANU’s complaints, JAC has resolved on a set of industrial activities that consist of the following:
To raise awareness among members about the government’s insensitivity to our plights, all NASU and SSANU branches should be required to hold a general meeting on Monday, July 8, 2024.
‘On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, there should be a simultaneous one-day protest at every branch. Each branch ought to make sure that the media and press are sufficiently enlisted in the protest and that every member takes part in it to the fullest.
‘Further information will be communicated appropriately.’ ‘A National protest will take place in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, 2024, following which JAC will meet to announce a date when strike action will commence.’
