The Joint Action Committee, (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has suspended its nationwide strike over withheld four months salaries.
The suspension, according to a circular to all branches of NASU and SSANU, takes effect from November 5, 2024.
The circular titled, “Update on indefinite strike action,” sighted by Arise News, was signed by the General Secretary of NASU,
Peters Adeyemi and National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim.
But the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), said it would continue with its proposed nationwide protest and the picketing of the Federal Ministry of Finance if the about 50 per cent of the five months withheld salaries are not paid as promised at the end of the two weeks ultimatum to the Federal Government.
The ultimatum which commenced on October 30, is expected to expire on November 13.
The President of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma, said that his members have received one month out of the about three months they were expecting.
In the circular by JAC to branch chairmen of NASU in the Universities and Inter-University Centres, the suspension is to last for one month pending when the Federal Government would pay the remaining one month out of the two months of the withheld salaries it acceptable to pay.
The government had accepted to pay 50 per cent of the four months salaries and one month was paid at the weekend.
The circular announcing suspension of the strike reads, “The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action.
“You will recall that the ongoing strike action foisted on us commenced on the Monday, 28th October, 2024 as a result of Government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands
“During this industrial struggle, we have had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services
“These high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that the two months of the four months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form. One month by the end of October, 2024 (which has largely been done), then the second month to be paid by the end of November, 2024.
“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new Minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday November 5, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these development and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.”
Meanwhile, NAAT has said it would continue with its planned action over the withheld salaries despite the fact that one month has been paid by the government.
The President of NAST, Ibeji Nwokoma, said, “Our members got one month out of the two and half months or three months of the backlog of our salaries. We are yet to be fully paid.”
Asked what is the position of his union after receiving one month’s salary in view of its planned action, he said, “We want to commend government for commencing the payment but it’s not enough.
“As directed by our NEC (National Executive Council), we will continue with our actions. On Wednesday in all over the country our branches will hold congresses for a referendum and they are going to hold protest all over the country.
“And if by November 13 which will be the end of our 14 days ultimatum and the government does not paid the agreed months because the minimum benchmark for us not to continue with the strike action is full payment of the 50 percent backlog of salaries as already approved by the President and that is our minimum benchmark mark.
“If that is not done, we will carryout a national protest on November 14 and we will picket the Ministry of Finance.”
He explained that his union has been trying to reach out to the Office of the Accountant-General to find out why only one month of the withheld salaries was paid, noting that because it was weekend, no contact has been established .
“It is difficult to discuss official matters during the weekend. So by Monday, we will be able to establish contact with the Office of the Accountant General to know actually what was sent, whether it was one month or whether procedural problem was the reason the two and half months that was approved was not paid fully. For now, we stand by what we told our members”, he said.
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