The Nationwide President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Joe Ajaero, has referred to as on the Federal Authorities to pay the 4 months withheld salaries of the Senior Employees Affiliation of Nigerian Universities and Non-Educational Employees Union of Instructional Related Establishments.
This was in response to the seven-day warning strike that SSANU/NASU started on Monday, which grounded the operations of universities throughout the nation.
SSANU and NASU had for a couple of month drawn the federal government's consideration to their exclusion from the fee of deducted salaries it had began paying for the Educational Employees Union of Universities in February.
Their salaries have been withheld when former President Muhammadu Buhari's authorities imposed a 'No Work, No Pay Coverage' towards the Educational Employees Union of Universities and SSANU for embarking on a strike in 2022 that lasted eight months and 4 months respectively.
A press release signed by Ajaero stated: “We be part of our affiliated commerce unions, the Non-Educational Employees Union of Instructional and Related Establishments and the Senior Employees Affiliation of Nigerian Universities, in demanding the fast fee of the withheld salaries of their members .
“There was no credible motive or rationalization for withholding these salaries in any respect.
We do not forget that this extraordinary act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.
“Far worse, it defies logic to try to topic members of those unions to discriminatory remedy. By doing this, the federal government promotes avoidable labor conflicts. At a time when confidence is being restored in public universities, the least the federal government can do just isn’t arrange one other strike. The toll on all events can be unacceptably excessive, particularly on college students and oldsters who bear the burden of site visitors on our harmful roads. In gentle of this, we urge the federal government to pay the excellent quantity promptly. We advise the federal government to not take the maturity of those unions with no consideration.”
In the meantime, SSANU Nationwide President Muhammed Ibrahim revealed that the strike achieved 90 % success, including that members have been indignant.
Ibrahim instructed The PUNCH: “I need to imagine that these in authorities should perceive the truth and if they’re critical about schooling for the sake of the lots, they need to act accordingly. The president already has an exemption that we needs to be paid, however some individuals determined to not pay us.
“They really feel that we’re much less mortal or not vital, or they suppose that the college is barely about ASUU. They should perceive that this can be a recipe for bother. In the event that they don't have water on campus, in the event that they don't have electrical energy, we take the safety workers off the gate and our college students are on campus, then they comprehend it's a horrible downside.
Now we have achieved 90 % success. Our individuals are indignant, they aren’t pleased, it’s clearly an injustice.”
On Monday, NASU and SSANU strikes paralyzed actions on school campuses in a number of states.
On the College of Ilorin, Kwara State, the NASU Chairman, Mr. Zuberu Ibrahim, stated the strike was successful as members of the 2 unions totally complied with the directives of the nationwide physique. “Our members' compliance with the strike is whole. . We held a conference early on Monday on the gate of the college earlier than sending the members to their respective properties, and this may proceed for the subsequent seven days.
On the College of Jos, Plateau State, SSANU and NASU members paralyzed actions on the college on Monday.
When our correspondent visited the institute, the gates of the college have been closed, whereas workers and college students who tried to realize entry have been stranded on the entrance.
In a letter collectively addressed to the vice chancellor of the college, chairman of the establishment's NASU chapter, Monday Kpaji, and his counterpart at SSANU, Anthony T. Joro, stated the strike would final for seven days in accordance with the rule. from their nationwide secretariat.
The strike was additionally noticed on the Joseph Sawuan Tarka College in Makurdi, previously the Federal College of Agriculture Makurdi.
Our correspondent, who visited the varsity, famous that the 2 unions began the strike on Monday after an emergency congress.
SSANU and NASU, in a collectively signed letter from Makurdi union presidents Kpamor Ruth and Saa Moses, stated they’d patiently waited for the expiry of the ultimatum and not using a constructive response to their calls for.
On the College of Abuja, SSANU members blocked entry to the college gate on Monday.
It was the same state of affairs at Nnamdi Azikiwe College, Awka, the place the 2 unions hosted educational actions.
Chatting with journalists on campus, the SSANU Secretary of the Institute, Bonny Ozonkwuaku stated: “Because it stands now, all our places of work within the administration block, lecture rooms, schools, work and upkeep departments, safety and pupil affairs models all beneath lock and key. key and that would be the case for the subsequent seven days till and until the needful is finished.
“The Federal Authorities treats non-teaching workers with contempt and impunity, and we are saying no to that. Union members haven’t acquired their arrears for 2022.”
On the Federal College of Expertise, members of Akure, SSANU and NASU gathered on the essential gate of the college the place they performed regular college actions.
The Chairman of SSANU, Felix Adubi, stated: “Now we have established administrative and technical providers on campus and that can proceed tomorrow.”
On the Olusegun Agagu College of Expertise, Okitipupa, SSANU President Dayo Temola stated: “We’re on strike as a result of it’s an harm to all of us.”
