The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) have initiated a protest due to unpaid salary arrears by the Federal Government. This action has led to the shutdown of the university as both unions have joined a nationwide strike.
Malam Aliyu Turaki, the state Chairman of SSANU, emphasized that the protest aligns with directives from their national bodies and is aimed at highlighting grievances over the unpaid salary arrears. He indicated that this protest is the beginning of their actions, with plans to assess the strike’s impact by next week Thursday. Additionally, a national protest in Abuja is scheduled for July 18 if no resolution is reached.
In response, the Vice-Chancellor of FUBK, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyanu-Umar, acknowledged the challenges faced by union members due to the unpaid salaries. He expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the protest and underscored the university management’s support for the unions’ actions, urging continued cooperation and understanding between all parties involved.
The situation highlights ongoing issues within Nigeria’s educational sector regarding salary payments and the actions taken by unions to address these concerns through collective protest.