By David Torough, Abuja

Industrial action by senior and non academic staff lulled many university campuses yesterday.

Campuses of Federal Government universities were particularly shut down by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU) over what they termed failure of the government to pay their members four months of their salaries.

These salaries were withheld following their strike in 2022 as government enforced No Work, No Pay rule.

The unions accused the Federal Government of unfair treatment by failing to pay them their four months’ withheld salaries like their academic counterparts.

They therefore demand immediate release of the salaries.

In a statement on Sunday co-signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the two unions said it is appalling that despite several ultimatums issued to the government, no positive result has come from the government.

The two unions directed their members in all public universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to “hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise”.

On September 17, 2023, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU handed the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to pay the outstanding withheld salaries of their members or risk an industrial action.

Before now, the two unions had staged several protests and warning strikes to protest their eight months’ withheld salaries by the Federal Government. During the warning strikes, nothing moved administratively within any public university in Nigeria as hostels and varsity gates were locked up and electricity supply was cut off by disgruntled non-academic staff.

The two unions berated the Federal Government for paying withheld salaries to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while neglecting the non-academic unions.

All the unions had embarked on an eight-month strike in 2022 to press home some of their demands including a better welfare package. The administration of then President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently invoked a No Work, No Pay policy against the unions but President Bola Tinubu last October approved the release of withheld salaries to ASUU members.

SSANU and NASU accused the Federal Government of unfair treatment and discrimination by failing to pay them the full eight months’ salaries like their academic counterparts.

The former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman had in April blamed a “communication problem” for the non-payment of the full amount to SSANU and NASU members, whilst he insisted that they were not discriminated against.

Situation on campuses

At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), there was total compliance. This came on the day the university was supposed to start academic activities for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The Branch Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Olugbenga Adenaiya said the action was in line with the directive from national office.

He said, “This morning, we held a congress where our members decided to follow the directive of the national leadership.

“It was unanimously agreed that the strike would be total and indefinite. We cannot be treated like slaves in our country.

“It is just a matter of continuing the strike we suspended the other time. All offices and essential services provided by SSANU and NASU members have been put on hold until further notice.”

Probably in anticipation of this, the management of the university had earlier said lectures would run online for some weeks.

Similarly, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) was at still. The FUTA Branch Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Felix Adubi said the non-teaching staff in the institution complied with the strike directive.

He said, “We held our congress this morning and it was resolved that we go on strike as directed by our national body. The government cannot say we have not tried enough.

“We went on strike, just like the teaching staff also did and you have paid some of the withheld salaries of academic staff and what about us?

“The saying is that what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. We won’t budge until our demands are met. The government is yet to address some issues raised in our earlier interactions with them, then this discriminatory stance of petting some people and treating others as inconsequential. We are not going to take it easy with them,” he said.

At theUniversity of Benin (UNIBEN), it was same. In a joint Congress held at the sports complex, Ugbowo Campus of the university, the leadership of the unions said a monitoring committee have been constituted to ensure compliance by those affected.

The university library, health centre and sports complex were closed to students. The gate was manned by a private security company.

The Chairman, NASU UNIBEN, Anthony Igbinosa said, “The president said they should give us 50 per cent of what they owe us, which is two months so we gladly left and happily told our people that we are expecting two months and let us start from somewhere. 18th of July till date is almost three months but at the end of the day we are told that it is the Minister of Finance that is sitting on top of the president’s directive but if the president is serious, will an appointee be sitting on his directive?’

Also, SSANU counterpart, Broderick Osewa said, “We have decided that we should commence and there is a monitoring team that will go around and we will make sure that there is total compliance in our university.”

Conversely, members of SSANU and NASU at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) went about their business yestersday.

The university Director of Public Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, confirmed that the strike had not been declared in the university by the two bodies.

He said, “Well, as I speak with you now, I’m in my office and some people are here.

“But you know today is when the University of Abuja branch of SSANU is going to have a congress to formally declare the strike.

“Now, whether they have eventually declared the strike in line with the directive of the national body or not is not what I can probably share with you because they are still having the meeting.“But at the moment, staff are in their various offices working. I’m here with my staff but that is not out of place since they have not formally declared the strike. They are still having a meeting here.”