The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
This decision follows the breakdown of talks with the Ministers of Education and Labour, who failed to address the unions’ concerns.
In a circular signed by NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU’s National President, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, the unions expressed their disappointment and frustration with the government’s “insensitivity” to their plight.
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The circular reads, “The engagement with the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment on the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.”
The protest is a response to the government’s failure to pay four months of withheld salaries and neglect of other grievances. The unions have planned a series of industrial actions, including a one-day protest on July 9, 2024, at each branch, and a national protest in Abuja on July 18, 2024. If their demands are not met, the unions may embark on a strike.
The circular urges all branches to hold a general meeting on Monday, July 8, 2024, to sensitize members about the government’s “insensitivity” and mandates full participation in the protest. The unions have also called on the press and media to adequately cover the events.
The protest is a last resort after attempts to engage with the government yielded no results. The unions are determined to fight for their rights and seek justice for their members. As the circular concludes, “Further information will be communicated appropriately. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.”
