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Wednesday, November 6, 2024

University Unions Demand Swift Release of Withheld Salaries Amid Indefinite Strike

NASU and SSANU Press Minister of Finance to Honour Presidential Approval, Citing Government Delays

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The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have called on Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to release four months’ worth of withheld salaries—a payment they say was approved by President Bola Tinubu.

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This call to action follows a renewed wave of union frustration, with NASU and SSANU dismissing any further negotiations, insisting instead that the Ministry of Finance promptly disburse the salaries. Muhammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU, urged swift action, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Show programme on Tuesday.

“The President has given the approval, and the Ministry of Education has confirmed it,” Ibrahim said. “It now lies within the Ministry of Finance to do the needful. No more meetings—just pay what’s due.”

Despite informal outreach from the government on Monday, Ibrahim expressed scepticism. “We’ve seen this before, but there’s an easy solution. Every process has been followed. It’s just a matter of pressing the button for payment.”

As of Monday, members of NASU and SSANU commenced an indefinite strike across public universities, demanding the immediate disbursement of their unpaid salaries. The unions instructed members to hold congresses nationwide and dismissed any further government concessions, stating a clear refusal to accept unequal treatment.

The unions’ frustration stems in part from perceived preferential treatment toward the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which received withheld salaries in October following a prolonged strike. While Education Minister Tahir Mamman attributed the delay to NASU and SSANU’s payments to a “communication problem,” union leaders allege the delays reflect discriminatory treatment.

This stalemate traces back to the Buhari administration’s imposition of a “No Work, No Pay” policy after an eight-month strike in 2022. Despite the current administration’s partial payments to ASUU, NASU and SSANU members remain unpaid, as they await a resolution that acknowledges their role and contributions to Nigeria’s educational landscape.

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