SSANU, NASU paralyse universities

By allcitynews.ng

Barely one month after suspension of nine months old strike by Academy Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the workers in universities under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU)
have taken on the war from where ASUU stopped, paralysing activities within the universities.

The Leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions of universities announced that it will go ahead with its nationwide strike on February 5.

This is to compel the Federal Government to address their demands, a statement from the unions has said.

NASU General Secretary, Comrade Peters Adeyemi,made this known in a statement jointly signed by Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU president, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Among their demands are rectifying inconsistencies in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of arrears of minimum wage, delay in renegotiation with government, NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement, among others.

It would also be recalled that Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, and other government officials, had met at a meeting on Wednesday, to address most of the unions’ demands.

NAN also reports that a joint committee was set up to address anomalies complained of by the unions and they were given 48 hours, to communicate a possible date for the next meeting.

According to Adeyemi, in view of the outcome of that meeting, the leadership of the JAC of NASU and SSANU at the branches had been directed to convene joint general meetings on Friday, February 5.

“This is to give reports on the outcome of the conciliation meeting and pass resolutions on the way forward. The resolutions of the branches must reach the respective National Secretariats on or before Tuesday, February 9.

“In the meantime, the nationwide strike takes effect from 12 midnight, 5 February, 2021, pending any contrary resolution by the branches.”

It would be recalled that ASUU in December 2020, under the leadership of Professor Biodun Ogunyemi as the body’s President called off strike they embarked on nine months ago and now unless called off, the universities are to witness another dry season.

Activities within universities will again be crumbled as SSANU, NASU begin nationwide strike by midnight Friday February 5, 2021.

According to the leadership of the two unions, the strike takes effect from 12 midnight, 5 February 2021, pending any contrary resolution by the branches.