Striking non-teaching staff of Federal public universities have refuted claims that the Federal Government has invited them for discussions regarding the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike. They assert that the government has not reached out to them for any meeting.
This development coincides with members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), among others in the South-East region, joining the strike to protest against the government withholding their salaries for the past four months.
Speaking to Vanguard, SSANU President Mohamed Ibrahim stated, “Nobody from the side of the government has reached out to us. Nobody from the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Education, or the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has reached out to us.” He criticized the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson for expressing disappointment in their actions, questioning the government’s expectations after their prolonged patience.
Ibrahim emphasized that the strike would continue until their demands were met, highlighting that the situation where various categories of workers have gone on strike, with some receiving partial payments and others left without any remuneration, is intolerable. He remarked, “If only academic staff can run the university system, there is no need to employ other categories of workers.”
Additionally, a lecturer at UNN reported that the strike hampered campus activities, stating, “The strike by the non-academic staff started today here on campus at UNN. The sit-at-home observance did not allow it to begin Monday as people stayed at home.”
At UNILORIN, NASU Chairman Zubair Haruna Ibrahim reiterated that the strike would remain indefinite until their demands are satisfied. He pointed out that the federal government ordered the payment of their four months’ withheld salaries but that they have yet to receive any payment, while members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have received 50 percent of their withheld salaries.
Falowo Olushola, Branch Chairman of SSANU, declared, “Until we are paid, we will continue with the strike action. President Bola Tinubu pronounced that our money be paid since last year, but up till now, it is still with the Accountant-General of the Federation.”