By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Protest begins over withheld salaries
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) at the University of Abuja have commenced a protest against the government’s decision to withhold four months’ salaries from university workers during their 2022 strike.
Addressing the press at the protest’s onset, chapter president Nurudeen Yusuf labeled the government’s action as “provoking.” The Nigerian government withheld salaries for both academic and non-academic university staff following an eight-month strike in 2022, with SSANU and NASU participating for four months.
In October, President Bola Tinubu ordered the payment of four out of the eight months’ withheld salaries for academic staff, excluding non-teaching staff, which led to a renewed rift between the unions and the government. Both SSANU and NASU have consistently opposed this selective payment and demanded inclusion.
Yusuf highlighted, “On March 18th, 2024, we embarked on a protest to draw attention to issues affecting our welfare and university education, particularly the payment of our withheld four months’ salaries. This selective implementation is vexatious and provoking.”
He warned, “Today’s protest marks the beginning of a series of union actions that could lead to a total shutdown of all universities in Nigeria. This is avoidable if the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour and Productivity address the issues promptly.”
The non-academic staff union is adamant about their stance and seeks to resolve the discontent stemming from these selective payments.
Protest Begins Over Withheld Salaries