The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a stern ultimatum to the federal government, warning of an indefinite strike if the long-standing issue of withheld salaries remains unresolved.
This declaration comes in the aftermath of the one-week warning strike recently called off by the association.
During the plenary session preceding the 73rd Regular/Statutory meeting of the Zonal Executive Council of the Western Zone, held at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Kwara state, Abdulsobur Salaam, Vice President of SSANU Western Zone, conveyed the association’s uncompromising stance.
Salaam emphasized that the patience of SSANU members has worn thin, urging the government to expedite the payment of withheld salaries to avert the looming crisis
The meeting comprised executives from 25 universities in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Kwara.
He said the federal government had failed to adhere to the agreement it entered into with the union about not taking any punitive measures about the strike the union embarked upon in 2022.
Salaam stated that it was unfortunate that the four months salaries that were withheld then have not been paid in spite of several calls and warning to the government.
The union had on March 19, 2024, embarked on a one-week warning strike following the inability of the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of non-academic staff in public universities in the country.
The salaries were seized during their strike in 2022, under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
The vice president said the government’s lack of concern to workers’ welfare was a high level of apathy which may force the union to resort to the last option of reconciliation which is strike.
”During the warning strike, it was as if heavens were going to fall, but immediately after it was called off, they have retreated and there has been no response so far, from the government.
”What we have witnessed is high level of apathy and unconcern with respect to the issues because the strike has been concluded.
”We shall be recalibrating and engaging ourselves in various meetings at our various levels in the union.
”But, without preempting, it is only natural that where there is discontent and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs particularly regarding the welfare of our members, going on total and comprehensive strike will not be out of place,” Salaam said.
He added that it was not the union that was always eager to down tools, but saying it was the only language the government understood when it comes to workers’ welfare.
”We do not want this matter to degenerate into us having to go into full blown strike, because with strike, we are all casualties including workers because no one wants to sit at home idle.
”So, we are not eager to do that and that is why we have continued to use every instrument at our disposal to continue to call on Nigerians to plead with the federal government to do the needful in respect to our issues.
”But if that fails, we shall be left with no other option than to do that.
”The idea behind no work no pay is to dehumanise us and make us unable to speak when issues arise and we have defied it by going on a one week warning strike and we can defer it further,” he said.
Chairman SSANU KWASU branch, Abdulsalam Kannike, said the meeting was an avenue to critically review the union’s activities and challenges and commended KWASU management for prioritising workers’ welfare.
Please why is the Government keeping quiet about our withheld salaries for four months, if there’s not any response, let go ahead for idenfenate strike.Thankyou.