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"Nationwide Crisis Looms: SSANU, NASU Declare Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries"

Achimi muktari

Fresh unrest is brewing in Nigerian universities as the country’s non-academic staff unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), have declared an indefinite nationwide strike. The strike, set to begin on Monday, October 28, 2024, is in response to the continuous withholding of their members' salaries for four months, dating back to 2022.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two unions made the announcement in a statement released on Sunday. The statement, jointly signed by SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, declared that the unions had exhausted all patience with the government after multiple ultimatums and protests failed to secure the payment of the owed salaries.

The Countdown to Crisis

The long-standing dispute centers around unpaid wages, which SSANU and NASU members have been battling for since the nationwide strikes of 2022. While the academic staff strike lasted for eight months, the non-academic staff unions suspended theirs after four months, trusting that the government would honor its commitment to pay the outstanding wages. However, despite their return to work, the wages of SSANU and NASU members remain unpaid.

JAC's statement emphasized that the unions had given the government ample time to meet their demands, but no progress had been made. “We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response to our demands by the government,” the statement reads.

Frustrated by the lack of action, the unions are now urging their members across universities and inter-university centers nationwide to hold joint congresses on Monday, October 28, and immediately embark on the indefinite strike.

What This Means for Nigerian Universities

The impending strike is expected to cause widespread disruption across the country’s tertiary education system, potentially crippling administrative functions and halting services in Nigerian universities. The non-academic staff are responsible for essential services that keep universities operational, such as library management, laboratory maintenance, and general campus administration.

The return of strike action is particularly concerning for the nation’s universities, which have only recently begun to recover from the prolonged shutdowns of 2022. With many institutions still struggling to make up for lost time, another halt in activities could have devastating consequences for academic calendars and student progression.

A System on the Brink

This latest development highlights the chronic issues plaguing Nigeria’s university system, where repeated strikes and salary disputes have become the norm. The government’s failure to address the long-standing grievances of non-academic staff points to deeper problems within the country’s educational funding and labor relations.

As the nation braces for another wave of university closures, students, parents, and staff alike are left hoping for a swift resolution. But with no indication that the government is prepared to meet the unions' demands, it remains to be seen how long this new chapter of industrial action will last, and how much damage it will inflict on Nigeria’s already strained education system.