As of this morning, the landscape of public tertiary institutions across Nigeria is witnessing a profound disruption as senior and non-academic staff embark on a seven-day warning strike. This move comes in the wake of the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the federal government concerning withheld salaries.
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has launched the strike as a final recourse to compel the federal government to disburse salaries withheld for four months owing to the 2022 strike.
In a communiqué issued by the Joint Action Committee, they underscore that the decision to down tools is an imperative measure to assert their demands. They affirm that the federal government has not responded affirmatively to their grievances, leaving them with no alternative but to resort to this action.
The directive for the strike encompasses all members nationwide, with stringent directives for mandatory adherence and zero tolerance for concessions. The unions reiterate their stance that they will not engage in any form of negotiation until the government satisfactorily addresses their demands.
The issue of withheld salaries stands as merely one among several longstanding grievances encountered by senior and non-academic staff in Nigerian universities. The unions have vocalized concerns regarding various issues, including inadequate funding, substandard infrastructure, and unjust labor practices.
The disruption precipitated by the warning strike underscores the exigency of tackling the underlying issues afflicting tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It also underscores the significance of dialogue and effective communication between the government and labor unions to avert further disruptions and achieve enduring resolutions.
As the strike unfolds, the reverberations on academic activities and the broader university community are expected to be palpable, emphasizing the imperative for expeditious resolution to mitigate disruptions and restore normalcy to the impacted institutions.
Ultimately, the efficacy of the warning strike hinges on the government’s willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerns articulated by SSANU and NASU. Failure to address these concerns could precipitate protracted disruptions and exacerbate the already precarious state of higher education in Nigeria.
