The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has wrapped up its seven-day warning strike, allowing space for the government to address the ongoing salary withholding issue.
During a virtual forum organized by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) in Lagos, SSANU President, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, officially announced the end of the strike. The forum, titled “Withheld Salaries vs Labour Crisis,” featured discussions involving stakeholders, including Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational And Associated Institutions (NASU).
The strike, initiated by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of affected university labor unions on March 18, was a response to the prolonged withholding of salaries spanning four months and the government’s failure to implement agreements made in 2009.
Mr. Ibrahim highlighted the fruitlessness of recent discussions with government representatives in Abuja, emphasizing the disruption caused by the strike on federal university campuses. He warned that failure to address the issue promptly would result in further action from the union.
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Citing past instances of unfulfilled promises, particularly the 2009 renegotiation agreement, Mr. Ibrahim stressed the union’s right to strike within legal bounds. He outlined lawful actions, including picketing and work refusal, available to the union in pursuit of its demands.
Blaming the government’s neglect of the education sector, Mr. Ibrahim underscored the critical role of union members in university operations and demanded equitable treatment akin to other unions. He emphasized the adverse effects of strikes on students, urging the government to prioritize education funding to avert recurrent crises.
Mr. Ibrahim also lamented the loss of lives among union members due to inadequate healthcare caused by financial constraints. He raised concerns about the lack of autonomy in universities and advocated for merit-based appointments of vice-chancellors and governing council members to ensure effective governance.
