The non-academic staff union of Nigerian Universities Friday, announced its plans to commence a total and indefinite strike action.
They threaten to paralyse academic activities in all tertiary institutions by the 5th of February if government does not address lingering issues.
The threat was made known in a communique issued on Friday by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU)
An excerpt of the communique reads that “It is in line with the resolution of our members nationwide, that the leadership of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU hereby resolve as follows:
“That members of NASU and SSANU shall embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike with effect from midnight of Friday, 5th February 2021.
“That two weeks’ notice effective from today, Friday 22nd January 2021, is hereby given to government and relevant stakeholders of this development.
Among the issues in contention are:
- inconsistencies in the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)
- Non-payment of Earned Allowances
- Non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage
- Delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement
- Non-payment of retirement benefits of outgone members
- Usurpation of the headship of non-teaching units by the teaching staff in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures
- Neglect and poor funding of state universities
- Non-constitution of visitation panels to universities.
If the non-academic staff of universities actually made good makes good its threat to commence a strike action, it would deal another major blow to the university eduction system in Nigeria.
This is in view of the fact that activities were halted following the 10-month strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union which was only suspended “conditionally” on Christmas Eve.
The situation was made worse by the covid19 pandemic and the lack of virtual learning infrastructure in the country.
Students have been idle at home for the entire period with no hope of getting back to their studies.
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Non-Academic Staff Of Universities Announce Total and Indefinite Strike