SSANU forced to strike, all negotiation options exhausted — President

According to Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, members of the association have tried every option to resolve the Federal Government's withholding of pay.

Members had been "pushed to the wall," according to the SSANU president, which prompted the start of the current statewide strike.

When he appeared on Channels Television's News Track program on Monday, he revealed this.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and SSANU Joint Action Committee is demanding, among other things, that their four-month withholding salary be paid, that their 2009 agreements with the government be implemented, and that they receive earned allowances and better compensation.

The unions started the strike on Monday after multiple attempts failed, which put a stop to operations in all of the nation's institutions.

"We've tried a number of times to work with the government to find a solution. Numerous extensions were granted even prior to the one on the 23rd. Remember, this is hardly a brand-new problem.

"We held several protests in Abuja in July, particularly on the 17th. During talks on the new minimum wage, the NLC then brought the issue before the president. The president ordered at that meeting that half of the pay for the four months be paid. However, the commitment has not been honoured three months later.

"We have had multiple conversations with the education ministers, who promised to pay us, but the promise has not materialised. Since we have tried every possible solution to the problem—including pleading with our members to exercise patience—we are currently at our wits' end. The strike has started when our members from various sections convened. According to Ibrahim, unless payments are received, all further operations in the bursary, register, works and maintenance, security, and student affairs have been suspended.

"Previous overtures were made by the former minister of education," the SSANU president added, adding that the strike will end if payments are paid. Additionally, the minister-designate called me this morning to arrange a meeting. However, the strike is a process, and the leadership of SSANU and NASU will need to meet.

“Currently, none of us is in Abuja, but we are trying to organise a meeting. The truth is, once these payments are made today, since payments are done by electronic transfer, we will call off the strike.”