SSANU, NASU protest decades of unmet demands

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) on Thursday staged a nationwide protest over unresolved issues affecting non-teaching staff.

The unions said the protest was to draw attention to decades of unmet demands and government’s continuous neglect of workers’ welfare in universities and inter-university centres.

Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, the Chairman of SSANU and JAC, stated this while addressing newsmen during the protest at the Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja on Thursday.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Honour your agreement,” “Pay us our sweat,” and “No more empty promises.”

Yusuf said the action reflected renewed agitation for justice and fairness in the university system after years of failed negotiations.

He said the government was yet to honour their agreements since 2009 in spite of repeated talks and several committees, including the Babalakin, Yayale Ahmed, and expanded committees, without concrete results.

“This is the longest labour negotiation in history. The non-academic staff have continued to suffer from government’s insensitivity,” he said.

Yusuf listed their key grievances including the unfair disbursement of ₦50 billion earned allowances, non-payment of two months’ salaries in 2022, the unremitted third-party deductions, and unpaid 25 per cent to 35 per cent wage award arrears.

According to him, meetings with the Minister of Education on Sept. 19 and Oct. 6 yielded no result, prompting JAC’s peaceful protest nationwide.

“We have extended our ultimatum twice to allow dialogue, but no meaningful response has come from the government,” he said.

Speaking, Dr Makulu Hasan, NASU President, said the issues had lingered for years in spite of repeated strike warnings and appeals for dialogue.

Hasan condemned the unfair sharing of the ₦50 billion allowances, saying that NASU and SSANU received only 20 per cent, while some members were completely excluded.

He demanded the payment of withheld salaries and wage awards, and urged government to honour its promises to restore peace and fairness in the university system.